The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced on Monday that a new round of negotiations for an international treaty aimed at reducing global plastics pollution will be held in Geneva from August 5 to 14. This follows a previous round of discussions in South Korea last year, which ended without an agreement.
Plastic pollution, which has reached alarming levels, has infiltrated even the most remote parts of the planet, from the highest mountain peaks to the deepest ocean trenches. Microplastics have been discovered throughout the human body, highlighting the widespread impact of the crisis.
The announcement of the upcoming talks comes shortly after the COP16 finance deal on biodiversity, signed by nearly 150 countries in Rome last week.
The ongoing effort to address plastic pollution remains critical as delegates from around 200 nations are expected to continue their negotiations on the most effective ways to tackle the issue. December’s talks broke down primarily due to opposition from oil-producing countries, and no formal agreement was reached, only a decision to extend the discussions.
