Geneva Faces Growing Concerns Over Rising Pollution

Starting Tuesday, over 190 countries will meet in Geneva for the second session of the UN’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to finalize the first-ever Global Plastics Treaty aimed at ending plastic pollution, including in oceans. Talks will focus on regulating plastic production, harmful chemicals, and waste management. Previous negotiations in Busan collapsed over disagreements on production caps and chemical bans, with oil-rich nations opposing limits and others pushing for strong action. The treaty, backed by a 2022 UN resolution, seeks to create a legally binding framework by 2024 to combat plastic pollution amid rising global production and waste.