World meets in Busan to face challenge of out-of-control plastic pollution

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Le Monde or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Delegates from 175 nations are meeting in Busan, South Korea, from November 25 to December 1 to finalize a global treaty to end plastic pollution
• This marks the fifth and final session of negotiations under a United Nations initiative
• However, a lack of consensus threatens the treaty's ambition, with the "zero draft" text showing deep divisions over key issues like production limits

🔭 The context: The negotiations follow a 2022 UN resolution that called for a legally binding treaty to tackle the plastic crisis
• Developed nations, including the EU and UK, advocate for addressing plastics across their lifecycle, while oil-producing nations, such as Saudi Arabia and China, prefer focusing solely on waste management
• Ecuador’s Luis Vayas Valdivieso has proposed a streamlined draft to bridge differences, but concerns remain over its scope

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Plastic pollution poses a severe threat to ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health
• Limiting plastic production and improving waste management are crucial for reducing its environmental impact
• The outcome of these negotiations will determine global commitments to combating this pervasive issue

⏭️ What's next: The meeting in Busan aims to deliver a treaty text by the end of the year, but negotiations may extend if disagreements persist
• The focus will remain on reconciling high-ambition goals with the economic interests of major plastic-producing and oil-dependent countries

💬 One quote: “If we only keep what's not in brackets... we end up with a page and a half, which is terrifying” – Henri Bourgeois-Costa of the Tara Océan Foundation

📈 One stat: The draft treaty currently spans 87 pages, with 7,400 bracketed references indicating areas of disagreement

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