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New plastic treaty draft weaker than rejected version
A new document meant to restart talks for a global plastics treaty has been criticised as weaker than the draft rejected in August 2025. Released quietly over the weekend, it prompted strong…
The Story in Brief
A new document meant to restart talks for a global plastics treaty has been criticised as weaker than the draft rejected in August 2025. Released quietly over the weekend, it prompted strong condemnation from environmental groups. Richard Thompson, a marine biologist who coined the term microplastics, said the text is extremely similar to the earlier draft and "even slightly weaker."
Negotiations collapsed last year after opposition from oil-producing nations including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Russia. A majority of countries want legally binding measures to curb plastic production, which is expected to triple by 2060. The smaller bloc insists on focusing on waste management. Chairman Julio Cordano called the document a "balanced approach" with divergent views in brackets. Formal talks are scheduled for March 2027.
The Indian Opinion
Pressure is mounting to call the plastics treaty a failure before the next round even begins. Yet the early dismissal of this informal document ignores that chair Julio Cordano explicitly marked disputed points for further negotiation. Both sides are digging in: oil-producing states see economic threat, while the majority demand binding cuts. Watching the Bangkok talks in September will reveal whether compromise is possible or if the treaty is truly dead.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
