There has been agreement to reach any stricter, enforceable rules to reduce plastic pollution after ten days of negotiations by nations at the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-5.2).

With more than 1,400 member delegates from 183 countries thee had been hope until the last minutes that some form of agreement could be reached. However, the fundamental issue of tackling pollution at source (cutting plastic production) or recovering waste material (recycling) divided the nations.

Consensus could not be reached on these key issues, and talks will resume in the future, though no date has been set.

Despite the disappointment of all involved, INC chair ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso expressed optimism in a statement: "It should not lead to discouragement. On the contrary, it should spur us to regain our energy, renew our commitments, and unite our aspirations.”

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