Wed Sep 25 04:00:00 UTC 2024: ## High-Ambition Coalition Aims to Curb Plastic Pollution at Crucial Talks
**Busan, South Korea** – A coalition of 67 countries, dubbed the “High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution,” is gearing up for a showdown with oil-rich nations at upcoming UN talks on a global plastics treaty. The talks, scheduled for November in Busan, South Korea, aim to finalize an agreement to address the escalating plastic pollution crisis.
Despite years of negotiations, progress has been hampered by deep divisions over the treaty’s scope and ambition. The High Ambition Coalition, led by Norway and the European Union, insists on a treaty that includes stringent measures to curb plastic production. However, oil-producing nations like Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Russia oppose such provisions, viewing plastic as a potential growth market for their oil as demand for fossil fuels in other sectors declines.
“We will not accept a small number of countries standing in the way of an agreement,” stated Norwegian International Development Minister Anne Beathe Tvinnereim. The coalition has vowed to stand firm against “vested interests” seeking to weaken the treaty.
The core components of the coalition’s desired treaty include:
* **Reducing plastic production:** Setting common goals and requirements to decrease plastic production.
* **Regulating plastic products and chemicals:** Introducing new rules for specific plastic products and hazardous chemicals used in production.
* **Improving sustainable design:** Promoting the design of plastic products with a focus on sustainability and circularity.
* **Boosting waste management:** Enhancing waste management systems to improve recycling and reduce plastic waste.
The High Ambition Coalition will engage with countries opposed to these measures in the coming weeks, seeking to identify their red lines and explore potential compromises.
However, Norway itself has faced criticism for its ongoing oil and gas exploration in the Arctic. Tvinnereim acknowledged that Norway will continue to rely on fossil fuels, but insisted that “there will be a lower demand for petroleum products in the future.”
Environmental advocates are watching closely, urging the coalition to remain steadfast in its commitment to a strong and ambitious treaty. They argue that a powerful agreement is crucial to combatting the plastic pollution crisis and transitioning towards a circular economy.
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