Negotiations on plastic pollution 'on the brink'

Representatives from 184 countries in Geneva were struggling on Wednesday (13) to reach a consensus on measures needed to reduce plastic pollution worldwide and negotiators, who were due to present a draft international treaty on Thursday, were “on the brink”, according to a delegate.

In the final phase of negotiations, dozens of ministers arrived in Geneva to try to unblock the process led by diplomats.

The negotiations, which pit large blocs of countries against each other in a tense climate, are “very difficult,” said Danish Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke.

Throughout the day, the chairman of the debates is expected to present a new, simplified version of the treaty text, which delegates have worked on for nine days, several sources told AFP.

A new plenary session is also planned to take stock of the negotiations.

The debate faces opposition from oil-producing countries, which reject any restrictions on the level of plastic production – derived from petroleum – and any ban on molecules considered dangerous to the environment or health worldwide.

Both measures, however, have strong support from another group of countries and NGOs.

“Negotiators are on the brink of a precipice,” said Pamela Miller, co-president of the NGO IPEN (International Pollutant Elimination Network), which is participating as an observer in the negotiations.

Eirik Lindebjerg, from the environmental organization WWF, fears “compromises and a bad deal” at the last minute.

WWF says it has identified “more than 150 countries in favor of banning certain hazardous plastics and chemicals” and 136 that want the text to be strengthened in the future.

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