INTERVIEW: Options remain for global plastics treaty, but future highly uncertain
The future of the potential first global plastic pollution treaty hangs in jeopardy as the United Nations may not have budget for further talks and, as of yet, no path forward has been confirmed.
Read MoreUPDATE – INC 5.2: Plastic pollution talks fail to deliver global treaty, again
Negotiations over a UN treaty to tackle plastic pollution collapsed early Friday morning in Switzerland after self-proclaimed high-ambition countries rejected a severely weakened treaty text, written hastily following days of delays and pressure from plastic-producing states.
Read MoreINC-5.2: Producer nations delay progress at plastic talks, but some proposals receive support
Substantial differences of priorities persist between self-proclaimed, high ambition countries and plastic producing nations at the ongoing high-stakes talks to carve out the first UN plastic pollution treaty.
Read MorePREVIEW: Standoff looms on resuming plastic treaty talks as ministers enter the fray
A record number of ministers will descend on Geneva next week as high-stakes talks resume on a first UN treaty aimed at tackling plastic pollution, amid mounting pressure on self-proclaimed ambitious countries to force the issue by sidestepping the veto of petrochemical-producing nations.
Read MoreBRIEFING: Delegates at deep-sea mining talks still divided over whether to move forward with global code
Countries at the latest UN deep-sea mining talks struggled to find common ground on a draft text for a global code as the deadline approaches, amid growing calls for a moratorium.
Read MoreChina, Indonesia sign bilateral agreement for blue carbon research
Indonesia and China signed an agreement last week, in which scientists from both nations will partner on blue carbon research, formalising their recent bilateral collaboration on blue carbon ecosystems.
Read MoreArmenia announces dates for 2026 UN biodiversity talks
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on Monday that the COP17 biodiversity summit will be held in the country’s capital Yerevan in the second half of October next year.
Read MoreSmall island ministry says plastic credits will shift burden to developing countries
Focusing too much on plastic credits may be appealing to the Global North, but would place excessive burdens on the Global South in tackling plastic pollution, according to a government official from one of the Small Island Developing States (SIDSs).
Read MoreEU keeps pushing for legally-binding plastic treaty at UN talks
The European Union will keep pushing for a legally-binding agreement to end plastic pollution at upcoming UN negotiations in Geneva next month, according to Denmark, which will represent the 27 EU countries at the talks.
Read MoreAustralian researchers develop industry-commissioned framework to assess deep-sea mining impacts
Australia’s national science agency has developed a framework to support the assessment and mitigation of impacts associated with deep-sea mining, ahead of the resuming UN negotiations on global rules for the industry.
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