U.S. failure on UN plastics treaty

After negotiating for more than two years, UN members could not find an agreement on what would have been the first-ever global legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution. 

One of the main points of divergence was a possible clause on “mandatory caps on plastic production”, an important target pushed by several environmental organizations. But it lost the backing of the United States administration in the latest round of negotiations. 

Several countries argue that ending plastic pollution and its adverse impacts on human health will not be possible without tighter restrictions on its production. But delegates backed by the petrochemical industry remain wary of economic implications. 

CGTN’s Ediz Tiyansan speaks with experts from both sides.

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