Nations warn of deadlock at landmark talks on plastic pollution

It was a possibility increasingly discussed as a “last resort,” said JM Bope Bope Lapwong of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“I think if we can’t reach an agreement, we will be forced to go to a vote. We can’t come all these kilometers and fail,” he told AFP.

“True, it is not the usual way at UN meetings and we will do it to our shame – because when you negotiate, you don’t expect to win everything.”

More than 90% of plastic is not recycled, while plastic production is expected to triple by 2060.

Environmental groups have pushed ambitious countries to move to a vote if progress stalls, arguing that countries such as Saudi Arabia and Russia have offered no compromise during talks.

Neither delegation responded to AFP’s repeated requests for comment.

“A handful of governments … are looking back and refusing to take the necessary steps for us all to move forward,” said Greenpeace’s Graham Forbes.

“I think we’re at a very risky time when we’re running out, and that would be an absolute catastrophe.”

But observers warned that calling a vote would be a risky strategy that could even alienate some countries in favor of a strong treaty.

Another option would be for the diplomat leading the talks to simply hammer through a deal over the objections of a small number of detainees, they said.

But even that carries risks, potentially embittering the remaining diplomatic process and jeopardizing the adoption of a future treaty.

“We don’t want to move outside the framework of the United Nations,” said an official from the French environment ministry.

“Hopefully we’ll find an agreement between now and tomorrow and that’s the option we’re focusing on,” he added.

“A lot can happen in 24 hours.” AFP