In a disappointing turn of events, world leaders from 185 countries have failed to reach an agreement on a long-awaited global treaty to fight plastic pollution. The high-profile negotiations, held over several days, aimed to create a legally binding plan to reduce plastic waste, which has been polluting oceans, rivers, and landscapes for decades.
Delegates from various nations could not agree on several key points, including how fast countries should cut production of single-use plastics, how much financial support richer nations should provide to poorer countries, and what penalties should be enforced for breaking the rules.
Environmental experts are calling this a missed historic opportunity. According to them, this treaty could have been a turning point for the planet, as plastic pollution is one of the fastest-growing environmental threats in the world.
Statistics from the United Nations show that over 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year, and less than 10% of it is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, waterways, and oceans—killing marine life, entering the food chain, and even polluting the air when burned.
Protesters and activists outside the meeting venue held banners reading “Stop Plastic Now” and “No More Empty Promises,” urging governments to put the planet before profit. However, despite strong public pressure, the talks ended without any final deal.
The failure means the treaty discussions will continue into the next year, but with no clear timeline for when, or if, a final agreement will be reached. Until then, the fight against plastic pollution remains largely dependent on individual countries and voluntary measures—something experts warn will not be enough to address the crisis.
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