Oil producer pressure, Trump rollbacks threaten last-chance global plastics treaty

Source: Reuters

Oil producer pressure, Trump rollbacks threaten last-chance global plastics treaty

Olivia Le Poidevin and Valerie Volcovici
Mon, August 4, 2025 at 8:10 AM EDT
3 min read

GENEVA (Reuters) -Hopes for a "last chance" ambitious global treaty to curb plastic pollution have dimmed as delegates gather this week at the United Nations in Geneva for what was intended to be the final round of negotiations.

Diplomats and climate advocates warn that efforts by the European Union and small island states to cap virgin plastic production - fuelled by petroleum, coal and gas - are threatened by opposition from petrochemical-producing countries and the U.S. administration under Donald Trump.

Delegates will meet officially from Tuesday for the sixth round of talks, after a meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) in South Korea late last year ended without a path forward on capping plastic pollution.

The most divisive issues include capping production, managing plastic products and chemicals of concern, and financing to help developing countries implement the treaty.

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