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Countries stay divided as fifth U.N. plastics treaty talks begin

As delegates from 175 nations gathered in Busan, South Korea on Monday for the fifth round of talks aimed at securing a global treaty to curb plastic contamination, sticking around departments cast doubts on whether a final arrangement is in sight.

South Korea is hosting the fifth and ostensibly final UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) conference this week, after the previous round of talks in Ottawa in April ended without a path forward on topping plastic production.

Instead the conference released an instructions for technical groups to focus on chemicals of concern and other steps after petrochemical-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia and China strongly opposed efforts to target plastic production.

The United States raised eyebrows in August when it said it would back plastic production caps in the treaty, putting it in positioning with the EU, Kenya, Peru and other nations in the High Aspiration Coalition.

The election of Donald Trump as president, nevertheless, has raised questions about that position, as during his first presidency he shunned multilateral contracts and any dedications to slow or stop U.S. oil and petrochemical production.

The U.S. delegation did not respond to questions on whether it would reverse its new position to support plastic production caps. However it supports making sure that the international instrument addresses plastic products, chemicals utilized in plastic items, and the supply of main plastic polymers, according to a. representative for the White House Council on Environmental. Quality.

Inger Andersen, executive director of the U.N. Environment. Program, said she was positive the talks will end with an. arrangement, pointing to the communique from the Group of 20. countries at a top last week calling for a legally binding. treaty by the end of this year.

This is a very powerful message, Andersen told Reuters in. Baku, on the sidelines of the UN climate settlements, before. travelling to Busan for the talks. We understand that it is typically. down to the wire, however if there is a will, I think we will get. there.

EFFECT ON HEALTH

For a Pacific island country like Fiji, a global plastics. treaty is important to safeguard its delicate environment and public. health, said Sivendra Michael, Fiji's climate minister and chief. climate and plastics negotiator.

He told Reuters on the sidelines of the 29th UN Climate. Modification Conference (COP29) this month that regardless of not producing. any plastic, Fiji is bearing the force of its downstream. contamination.

Where do these plastics end up? It winds up in our oceans,. in our garbage dump, in our backyards. And the effect of the. plastics breaking down into little compounds has destructive. effects, not just on the environment, however on us as individuals,. on our health, he stated, keeping in mind studies that showed the majority of the. fish consumed in the country was contaminated with microplastics.

While supporting a worldwide treaty, the petrochemical. industry has actually been singing in urging federal governments to prevent setting. compulsory plastic production caps, and focus on services on. reducing plastic waste, like recycling.

We would see a treaty effective if it would really put ... focus on ending plastic contamination. Nothing else should be the. focus. said Martin Jung, president for performance materials at. chemical producer BASF.

Previous talks have actually also discussed looking for kinds of. moneying to assist establishing countries implement the treaty.

At COP29, France, Kenya and Barbados drifted establishing a. series of worldwide levies on particular sectors that could assist ramp. up the amount of cash that could be offered to. establishing nations seeking assistance to assist their clean energy. transition and cope with the progressively serious effects of. climate modification.

The proposition consisted of a fee of $60-$ 70/ton on primary. polymer production, which is on typical around 5-7% of the. polymer price, seen potentially raising an approximated $25-$ 35. billion annually.

Industry groups have actually declined the idea, saying it will raise. consumer rates.

(source: Reuters)