#UnitedNations #Environment Programme Executive Director Inger Andersen said the issues are complex but the crisis is “really spiraling” & there’s a narrow pathway to a #treaty. She said many countries agree on redesigning #plastic products to be #recycled & improving #waste management, for example.

Between 19 million & 23 million tons of plastic waste leak into #AquaticEcosystems annually, that could jump 50% by 2040 without urgent action, according to the #UN.

#PlasticPollution #FossilFuels

About 300 businesses that are members of the Business Coalition for a Global #PlasticsTreaty — companies such as Walmart, the Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, & L’Oréal—support reducing production along with increasing recycling & reuse. The coalition includes major food & beverage companies & retailers who want an effective, binding treaty with global rules to spare them the headaches of differing approaches in different countries.

#plastic #PlasticPollution #FossilFuels #Climate #health #wildlife

Some plastic-producing & #oil & #gas countries firmly oppose production limits. #SaudiArabia, the world’s largest exporter of one common type of #plastic, has led that group in asserting there should be no problem producing plastic if the world addresses #PlasticPollution.

The #US doesn’t support global production caps or bans on certain plastic products or #chemical additives to them.

#FossilFuels #Oceans #Climate #health #wildlife

The #State Dept says it supports provisions to improve waste collection & management, improve product design & drive recycling, reuse & other efforts to cut the #plastic dumped into the #environment.

“If the negotiations are to succeed, the agreement must be aimed at protecting the environment from #PlasticPollution, & the agreement should recognize the importance #plastics play in our economies,” the State Dept said in a statement to AP.

#FossilFuels #Oceans #Climate #health #wildlife