By AFP - Agence France Presse
France accuses countries of “obstruction” in plastics talks.
France on Sunday accused a handful of countries of obstructing negotiations in South Korea to reach the world's first treaty to reduce plastic pollution.
“We are also concerned about the continued obstruction by so-called like-minded countries,” Olga Givernet, France's minister delegate for energy, told reporters, referring to a group of mostly oil-producing nations.
Around 200 countries are meeting in the port city of Busan to negotiate an agreement to reduce plastic pollution, with just a few hours to go until the deadline.
“Finding agreement for us on an ambitious treaty to reduce plastic pollution remains an absolute priority for France,” said Givernet.
“We are planning to insist and insist again.”
More than 90% of plastic is not recycled, and plastic production is expected to triple by 2060.
Efforts to reach the historic agreement have been blocked by several key points, notably the reduction of production and the phasing out of chemicals that are thought or known to be harmful to human health.
More than 100 countries support these measures and insist that a treaty without them will fail to solve the pollution crisis.
But around a dozen nations - mostly producers of plastic precursors derived from fossil fuels - are firmly opposed.
“We still have a few hours left in these negotiations; there is time to find common ground, but Rwanda cannot accept a treaty without strength,” said Juliet Kabera, director general of Rwanda's Environmental Management Authority.
The latest draft text is still full of opposing views and contradictory language, and the new version promised after long hours of negotiations until Saturday evening has still not been published.
“We will continue to fight for an ambitious outcome in Busan,” said Givernet.
“We still have a few hours to discuss and give input and make sure that our determination (is) to continue the negotiation process until the last hour.”
bur-kaf/sah/cwl
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