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US blasts countries that ‘stood in the way of progress to protect their profits’ over collapsed plastic talks
The White House criticized a group of oil-rich countries as well as corporations who make money from plastic production in a new statement after global talks for a treaty to reduce plastic waste collapsed.
“While the global movement to reign in the urgent threats of plastic waste in the environment has gained tremendous momentum, a small group of countries and producers stood in the way of progress to protect their profits and perpetuate an inadequate status quo,” said Sean Savett, spokesperson for the National Security Council, in a written statement.
Countries left Busan, South Korea, over the weekend without a treaty after what was supposed to be the final round of talks.
However, the group of 170 nations failed to come to an agreement.
A coalition of more than 60 countries, known as the high ambition coalition, has called for reining in plastic production and eliminating plastic pollution by 2040.
However, some countries that produce oil and others who are developing reportedly did not want to limit plastic production.
Many plastics are made from fossil fuels including crude oil. If much of the world transitions to lower-carbon energy sources, plastic production is another way that fossil fuel producers could still make money.
While not part of the high ambition coalition, the U.S. said earlier this year that it would also back a global goal to cut plastic production.
In his statement, Savett said he was “disappointed” in the outcome of the talks but said “we are resolved to make more progress in the next stages of this negotiation.”
However, with U.S. leadership set to soon change hands, it’s likely the country’s position will shift yet again. The Trump administration is not expected to support cuts to plastic production.
Minuscule plastic pieces known as microplastics have become omnipresent in the environment. Research on cells and animals has demonstrated that microplastics can impact the digestive, respiratory, endocrine, reproductive and immune systems.
A study published earlier this year linked microplastic and tinier nanoplastic exposure to heart attacks, strokes and death.
Read more at The Hill
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