An economic lifeline: Why Iran opposes production curbs in UN plastics treaty
Iran’s plastics industry brings in much-needed foreign currency, which it can use to try and contain runaway inflation
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Failure of Busan talks exposes fossil fuel barrier to UN plastics pact
Countries told they can’t afford to miss the opportunity to tackle plastic pollution next year – but can they resolve a row over cutting oil-heavy production?
Over half of countries push for plastic production cuts in new UN pact
Ahead of hard-fought negotiations due to resume in August, 95 countries have issued a “wake up” call for an “ambitious” plastics treaty
Fossil fuel lobby secures “record” access to crunch talks on new plastics pact
Representatives of ExxonMobil, Dow, BASF and Sabic are among the oil and petrochemical firms with participants at the INC-5 negotiations in South Korea
Global plastics pact “hangs in balance” as petrostates block talks
Major fossil fuel-producing countries are blamed at negotiations in Busan for opposing curbs on plastic manufacturing, a key market for oil and gas
Production curbs needed for strong global pact on plastic pollution, campaigners say
Rather than just reusing and recycling ever-growing mountains of plastic waste, it’s essential to tackle the problem at the source
Hopes fade for production curbs in new global pact on plastic pollution
With no further talks scheduled on limiting plastic production before final negotiations in November, the treaty may focus instead on recycling
Canadian minister vows to fight attempts to weaken plastic pollution treaty
Environment minister Steven Guilbeault accuses “some countries” of slow-walking negotiations, ahead of talks in Ottawa
Draft UN plastics treaty threatens Big Oil’s plan B
Countries are considering a global target to curb plastic production, not just focus on recycling as the industry wants
How a local victory against petrochemicals can spur global action on plastics
The Banner sisters fought for the preservation of land in America’s ‘Cancer Alley’. They are now in Paris to demand a global cap on plastic production.
Row over veto powers holds up Paris plastic treaty talks
Saudi Arabia and a group of emerging economies like China, India and Russia pushed to keep vetoes in plastic treaty talks
Japan joins anti-plastic coalition ahead of Paris treaty talks, leaving US isolated
After Japan joined the high ambition coalition against plastics production, the US is now the only major developed country not a member
Less plastic or more recycling – nations split ahead of treaty talks
While the EU and African countries push for production cuts, major nations like the US and Saudi Arabia focus instead on recycling and waste disposal
Battle lines drawn in talks on new plastics treaty
US and Saudi Arabia want a bottom-up deal focused on recycling, while a “high ambition coalition” wants top-down curbs on plastic production
Plastics resolution tees up battle over oil industry’s plan B
As the world seeks to move beyond burning fossil fuels for energy, the oil sector saw plastic production as a lifeline – but now that’s in doubt too