A United Nations conference with delegations from more than 170 countries failed to agree on a new international convention on reducing plastic waste after the fifth round of negotiations in Busan, South Korea. As the meeting took place, protesters from the environmental group Greenpeace, including one from Taiwan, were arrested after boarding a cargo ship carrying chemicals used in plastic production near the South Korean port city.
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00:00Environmental activists from four countries, including Taiwan, board a cargo ship carrying
00:09chemicals used in plastic production near Busan, South Korea.
00:14They were later detained by police.
00:16Their goal?
00:17To draw attention to the problem of plastic waste, while a United Nations meeting on that
00:22very topic was taking place on shore.
00:25At a conference hall nearby, negotiators from more than 170 countries tried and failed
00:31for the fifth time to reach an agreement on curbing plastic waste.
00:36Negotiations are set to continue at a later date.
00:38The meeting's leaders tried to be optimistic.
00:42We have succeeded in many areas, however, there are critical matters that still need
00:50to be agreed.
00:51While the various parties still disagree on a solution, nearly all agree on the problem.
00:57The UN says that this year alone, the world will consume 500 million tons of plastic,
01:0380% of which will turn into plastic waste, much of it ending up in the ocean.
01:09If nothing is done, the amount of annual plastic waste is on track to triple by 2060.
01:16Over 100 countries supported a proposal by Panama that would have set global targets
01:21limiting plastic production.
01:23However, a handful of developing and oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia, rejected
01:29the idea, saying efforts should focus on fighting plastic waste, not plastic production.
01:36Every day of delay is a day against humanity.
01:40Postponing negotiation does not postpone the crisis.
01:44Environmental group Greenpeace says it's cautiously optimistic, despite the detention
01:49of its protesters on the cargo ship off Busan.
01:52We are incredibly disappointed that we did not land a meaningful agreement here in Busan.
01:57I think the silver lining is that more than 100 countries representing billions of people
02:02stood up for the type of treaty that will reduce plastic production, protect human health,
02:08and finance the transition that's going to be desperately needed to address the plastic
02:12pollution crisis.
02:14From officials in conference rooms to protesters on the seas, people around the world are pushing
02:19for urgent action on plastic waste.
02:22But with yet another round of negotiations falling through, they'll have to refocus
02:26their efforts on the next one.
02:29Kama Xu and Chris Gorin for Taiwan Plus.