A groundbreaking UN treaty aimed at curbing global plastic pollution has reached an impasse after major oil-producing nations, spearheaded by Saudi Arabia and Russia, blocked proposals to limit plastic production. The negotiations, which took place in Busan, South Korea, highlighted deep divisions between environmental advocates and petrochemical interests.
The collapse of talks marks the third significant UN forum to reach a deadlock in recent weeks, following similar setbacks at the biodiversity summit in Cali and the climate summit in Baku. The treaty, which drew parallels to the 2015 Paris climate accord, sought to address the mounting crisis of plastic consumption, currently averaging 60kg per person annually.
More than 200 global consumer brands, including retail giant Walmart and consumer goods manufacturers Unilever and Nestlé, backed initiatives to eliminate single-use plastics and harmful chemicals. The Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty expressed frustration at the slow pace of progress, attributing the delay to a minority of resistant nations.
The International Energy Agency’s forecasts indicate that oil-based feedstock for plastic production will become the primary driver of oil demand growth in the latter half of this decade, as renewable energy adoption and electric transport reduce traditional oil consumption. This economic reality underpins the resistance from oil-producing nations to production limits.
A coalition of 100 countries supported measures to restrict new plastic production, while 140 nations favoured phasing out certain chemicals harmful to human health and the environment. However, the opposition from petrochemical interests, represented by the International Council of Chemical Associations, maintained that waste management, rather than production limits, should be the treaty’s focus.
The negotiations will resume at an undetermined future date, leaving environmental campaigners concerned about continued obstruction from petroleum-producing states. The outcome reflects growing tensions in multilateral environmental agreements and highlights the complex balance between environmental protection and economic interests.
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