Japan Hosts Talks to Revive Global Plastic Pollution Treaty
Plastic Recycling | 2026-03-02 05:31:57
Cordano has warned that plastic pollution is a “planetary problem” requiring urgent, coordinated global action.
By Paul Ploumis
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Delegates from nearly 20 countries are convening in Japan for three days of informal talks aimed at reviving negotiations on a landmark global treaty to curb plastic pollution.
The closed-door meeting, hosted by Japan’s Environment Ministry, brings together working-level officials in an effort to break months of deadlock after previous negotiations in South Korea in 2024 and Geneva last August collapsed without agreement.
A Japanese Environment Ministry official confirmed that the discussions, running through tomorrow, are not expected to produce a formal announcement but are intended to “push for progress” on the stalled plastics treaty framework. Since the Geneva talks failed, limited headway has been made, aside from the election of Chile’s chief climate negotiator Julio Cordano as chair of the process.
Cordano has warned that plastic pollution is a “planetary problem” requiring urgent, coordinated global action. More than 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually worldwide, with roughly half designed for single-use applications.
Major oil producers including Saudi Arabia, Russia and the United States are participating, alongside China, India, the European Union and small island states. Divisions persist between countries seeking production caps and those favoring waste management-focused measures, though UN officials maintain a treaty remains achievable.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the purpose of the Japan meeting?
To revive momentum toward a legally binding global treaty to reduce plastic pollution.
- Why are negotiations stalled?
Countries are divided over whether the treaty should limit plastic production or focus primarily on waste management.
