Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations Show Progress, Potential for March 2027 Agreement
Negotiations for the first global treaty to curb plastic pollution are showing signs of progress, with Chilean Ambassador Julio Cordano, the chair of the talks, indicating that an agreement could be adopted in March 2027. Informal consultations in Bangkok revealed that countries are less divided than previously thought. The treaty, which began negotiations in 2022 with an initial two-year timeline, has faced significant hurdles, including failed talks in South Korea in 2024 and Geneva in 2025. Cordano presented a non-binding negotiating document that outlined possible provisions, with contentious issues such as a cap on plastic production, references to human health, and definitions of problematic plastic products and chemicals of concern left in square brackets. While most nations advocate for ambitious, legally binding measures to reduce plastic production, which is projected to triple by 2060, a smaller group of oil-producing states, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Russia, prefers a focus on waste m...
