Environmentalists slam fossil fuel lobbyists influence on plastic talks

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🗞️ Driving the news: Environmental groups criticized the presence of over 200 fossil fuel and petrochemical lobbyists at UN talks in South Korea on a treaty to end plastic pollution
• Activists accuse industry players of spreading misinformation and obstructing efforts to limit plastic production, which conflicts with their business interests
• Despite these concerns, the UN says it cannot regulate who joins national delegations

🔭 The context: Nearly 200 nations are negotiating a legally binding treaty to address the full lifecycle of plastics, from production to disposal
• Environmentalists advocate for curbing new plastic production, but industry groups argue their technical expertise can help address pollution
• Critics note that some nations include industry representatives on their delegations, raising conflict-of-interest concerns

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Plastic pollution harms ecosystems, contributes to climate change, and affects human health
• Limiting plastic production is essential for sustainability, but strong lobbying by fossil fuel and chemical industries threatens to water down the treaty

⏭️ What's next: Talks will continue as negotiators aim to reconcile differing priorities and finalize the treaty by 2024
• Key disagreements include setting limits on plastic production versus focusing on waste management solutions

💬 One quote: “The difference is that NGOs are representing public interests, whereas these industries are representing private interests,” - Delphine Levi Alvares of the Center for International Environmental Law

📈 One stat: Over 200 lobbyists from the fossil fuel and chemical sectors are registered for the talks, outnumbering the 135 reported by industry representatives themselves

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