These 3 things stand in the way of a global plastic pact

There is considerable disagreement over whether to create a dedicated plastics fund, paid for by developed donor countries, or to use existing mechanisms such as: Global Environmental Foundation.

The draft text of the treaty specified plastic production fees, or taxes, which many delegates believed would be necessary to raise enough money to implement the global pact.This is a red line for many plastics-producing countries, who see any such measure as punitive and unfair on trade cost imposing.

2. Plastic production

It a highly ambitious coalition Co-chaired by Rwanda and Norway, measures to reduce plastic production are essential, supported by substantial evidence.

Panama presented it ambitious proposal Requiring countries to adopt a global target to bring production of primary plastic polymers to sustainable levels after the treaty is agreed.

However, targets for reducing plastic production are another red line for oil-rich countries. In the closing plenary, statements on behalf of the like-minded group, the Arab group and others made it clear that they would not accept any such measure.

Most plastics are made from fossil fuels.

Photo: Martin Rügner; Getty Images:

3. Safety

Research shows that more than 16,000 chemicals are used or present in plastics, and while safety information is missing for more than 10,000 of these, 4,200 are known to be of concern.

Effective regulation of the use of chemicals from plastics should be a cornerstone of any plastics-related treaty.However, despite proposals and support from more than 100 member countries for a global phase-out of harmful chemicals, there are only passing references to chemicals in the text of the treaty.