Petrostates Blow Up UN Plastics Conference - CleanTechnica

The article discusses the recent failure of a United Nations conference in Geneva aimed at finalizing a global treaty to address the full life cycle of plastics, including production, design, and disposal. Originally agreed upon by 175 nations in March 2022, the treaty sought to limit plastic production, improve cleanup and recycling, and reduce toxic chemicals associated with plastics. However, the conference ended without a deal, largely due to opposition from oil-producing "petrostates" such as Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Iran, who resisted any production caps or binding measures. These countries argued that limiting plastic production would harm commerce and civilization, echoing tactics seen in past climate negotiations. Many countries, including Colombia, the EU, the UK, and small island developing states (SIDS), expressed deep disappointment with the draft treaty, which lacked binding commitments, financial mechanisms, and provisions to phase out harmful chemicals. Representatives from Micronesia and other nations criticized the process as biased and favoring the interests of petro-states