‘A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’: The world’s fight to curb plastic waste

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Delegates from 175 countries are convening in Busan, South Korea, for the final round of negotiations to finalize a global treaty addressing plastic pollution
• The talks aim to establish legally binding measures to "end plastic pollution," encompassing the entire lifecycle of plastics
• Key issues, including reducing plastic production and regulating toxic chemicals, remain divisive, threatening an agreement ahead of the end-of-year deadline

🔭 The context: Since 2022, negotiations have highlighted the global scale of plastic waste, with over 460 million metric tons produced annually
• While nations like the U.S. recently supported reductions in production, industry groups and fossil fuel-dependent nations resist mandatory caps
• A streamlined draft text from Ecuador's ambassador aims to simplify negotiations, but concerns persist over diluted ambition

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Plastic pollution devastates ecosystems, threatens biodiversity, and introduces toxic microplastics into the environment and human bodies
• A robust treaty could significantly curb emissions from plastic production, enhance waste management, and reduce reliance on single-use plastics
• Without bold commitments, the plastic crisis will worsen, undermining health and climate goals

⏭️ What's next: Negotiations may extend beyond Busan if meaningful progress is not achieved, as stakeholders prioritize substance over speed
• Countries will likely continue refining provisions to address production caps, chemical regulations, and funding mechanisms
• Future meetings will determine how the treaty's obligations are implemented globally

💬 One quote: “It’s more important to get the treaty right than to get it done” – John Hocevar, Greenpeace’s oceans campaign director

📈 One stat: The production of primary plastics emitted 2.24 metric gigatons of CO₂ in 2019, equivalent to the annual emissions of over 500 million gas-powered cars

Click for more news covering the latest on pollution