<h1>Global Plastic Pollution Treaty Talks Fail to Agree on Binding Production Limits After Fifth Round</h1> International negotiations involving 185 countries to establish the first global treaty addressing plastic pollution concluded without agreement after the fifth round of talks in Geneva. The proposed draft treaty omitted binding limits on plastic production, leading to significant opposition from a coalition of over 60 countries advocating for mandatory caps, phase-outs of harmful plastics, and elimination of hazardous chemicals. Conversely, major oil, petrochemical producers, and some manufacturing nations opposed production limits, favoring voluntary measures focused on recycling and waste management. The talks, part of a process initiated in 2022 to comprehensively tackle plastic pollution from raw material extraction to disposal, failed to reconcile these divergent positions despite extended negotiations. The deadlock highlights ongoing challenges in achieving a legally binding international framework to address plastic pollution's environmental and health impacts.