"Nations kicked off a meeting on Tuesday to try to complete a landmark treaty aimed at ending the plastic pollution crisis that affects every ecosystem and person on the planet.

It’s the sixth time negotiators are meeting and they hope the last. A key split is whether the treaty should require cutting plastic production, with powerful oil-producing nations opposed; most plastic is made from fossil fuels. They say redesign, recycling and reuse can solve the problem, while other countries and some major companies say that’s not enough.

Luis Vayas Valdivieso, the chair of the negotiating committee that aims to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, said: “We are pretty sure nobody wants plastic pollution. Still, we have not been able to find a systematic and an effective way to stop it.”"

Jennifer McDermott reports for the Associated Press August 5, 2025. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"World In $1.5Tn ‘Plastics Crisis’ Hitting Health From Infancy To Old Age, Report Warns" (Guardian) [3]

"Dems Urge Trump Admin To Step Aside For Plastic Treaty Talks" (E&E News) [4]

"Countries Gather To Thrash Out Deal On 'Plastic Crisis'" (BBC News) [5]

"Oil Producer Pressure, Trump Rollbacks Threaten Global Treaty On Plastics Pollution" (Reuters) [6]