UN talks in Geneva aimed at securing the first legally binding agreement on plastic pollution have collapsed, with petrostates and the US blocking action. The failure has been met with widespread anger, as the threat to health, environments, and wildlife continues to escalate.
Most states were willing to act, but a minority, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the US, insisted on limiting measures to tackling waste rather than curbing production or toxic chemicals. The US demanded only voluntary measures, which was rejected by 'high ambition' states such as the EU, Britain, Canada, and most of the global south.
Microplastics have been found in placentas, blood, and breast milk, with links to miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects, and childhood cancer. Plastic production is expected to triple to over a billion tonnes annually within 35 years, half of which is single-use.
Despite the setback, campaigners urge against despair, noting that the Montreal protocol took eight years to amend. Some hope China could play a leading role, while countries like Colombia are already taking unilateral steps. The record number of industry lobbyists in Geneva underscores the entrenched interests, but also shows that change is possible.
