Negotiators Meet in Kenya for Talks on Plastic Pollution
2023-11-15
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1A large group of international negotiators and United Nations representatives are meeting in Nairobi, Kenya this week.
2They aim to take the next step in creating a document that hopes to stop plastic pollution around the world.
3The meeting is the third of an expected five gatherings of what the UN calls an intergovernmental negotiating committee, or INC, under the UN Environment Programme.
4The final meeting will be late in 2024.
5By then, the UN hopes to have an agreement that will have the force of law in countries that agree to it.
6The agreement would limit plastic production and provide rules on how to throw away or recycle plastic products currently in use.
7Kenya is one of the most restrictive countries in the world.
8In 2017, the East African nation banned the manufacture, sale and use of plastic bags that can be used only one time.
9Lawbreakers can face five years in jail and fines.
10In 2019, Kenya banned single-use plastics such as water bottles and drinking straws from being used in parks, forests, beaches and other protected natural areas.
11The most recent meeting was held in Paris in June.
12There was disagreement over how the rules should affect oil-producing countries.
13Plastic is largely made from oil.
14However, the June meeting ended with an agreement to create an "initial treaty text" or an outline that will be refined this week.
15Bjorn Beeler is with the International Pollutants Elimination Network, a group of environmental nonprofits.
16He said the text is like a large food list at a restaurant - a menu.
17The job this week is for the negotiators to choose what they want for the treaty.
18He said the treaty will grow as those in Nairobi this week present their ideas.
19Beeler's group hopes the document deals with bad chemicals used in the creation of plastics.
20Kenya's president is William Ruto. He said the treaty will be the "first domino" in a move away from plastic.
21Dominos is a game in which the pieces connect to each other.
22Gustavo Adolfo Meza-Cuadra Velasquez is a permanent member of the UN from Peru.
23He is the head of the negotiating committee.
24He called the need to deal with the world's plastic pollution "urgent" and said the world needs to work together "to bring a difference at the scale required."
25Two of the nations pushing an agreement are Norway and Rwanda.
26The nations released a statement earlier this month calling for an "ambitious" treaty that will protect human life and the environment.
27They are concerned about plastic pollution, plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
28Saudi Arabia is among the countries that have large oil industries.
29The nations include Iran, China, and Russia.
30They want the treaty to center on plastic waste control and not reduce the creation of plastic products.
31Environmental activists are concerned that those countries will not cooperate.
32Graham Forbes is with Greenpeace.
33He said it was "unfortunate" that a "handful of governments" are putting the interests of chemical companies ahead of "the health of the planet and their own citizens."
34Another climate activist is Erik Lindebjerg of the World Wildlife Fund based in Switzerland.
35He said the oil producing nations want to make the treaty a "loose voluntary agreement."
36He wants the agreement to be "a strong treaty."
37Negotiators for the U.S. said the treaty should have "meaningful" terms but also leave room for differences between countries so that an agreement can be reached.
38Chemical companies and oil companies such as ExxonMobil say they want the treaty to pay more attention to the lifespan of plastics instead of banning them.
39Chris Jahn is a spokesman for the International Council of Chemical Associations.
40He said the group should center its talks on "ending plastic pollution, not plastic production."
41Karen McKee of ExxonMobil noted improvements in the ability to recycle plastics at ExxonMobil's center in Baytown, Texas.
42The meeting ends on Sunday.
43The next meeting of the INC is next April in Ottawa, Canada.
44I'm Dan Friedell.
1A large group of international negotiators and United Nations representatives are meeting in Nairobi, Kenya this week. They aim to take the next step in creating a document that hopes to stop plastic pollution around the world. 2The meeting is the third of an expected five gatherings of what the UN calls an intergovernmental negotiating committee, or INC, under the UN Environment Programme. The final meeting will be late in 2024. By then, the UN hopes to have an agreement that will have the force of law in countries that agree to it. The agreement would limit plastic production and provide rules on how to throw away or recycle plastic products currently in use. 3Kenya is one of the most restrictive countries in the world. In 2017, the East African nation banned the manufacture, sale and use of plastic bags that can be used only one time. Lawbreakers can face five years in jail and fines. In 2019, Kenya banned single-use plastics such as water bottles and drinking straws from being used in parks, forests, beaches and other protected natural areas. 4Gap opens 5The most recent meeting was held in Paris in June. There was disagreement over how the rules should affect oil-producing countries. Plastic is largely made from oil. However, the June meeting ended with an agreement to create an "initial treaty text" or an outline that will be refined this week. 6Bjorn Beeler is with the International Pollutants Elimination Network, a group of environmental nonprofits. He said the text is like a large food list at a restaurant - a menu. The job this week is for the negotiators to choose what they want for the treaty. He said the treaty will grow as those in Nairobi this week present their ideas. 7Beeler's group hopes the document deals with bad chemicals used in the creation of plastics. 8Kenya's president is William Ruto. He said the treaty will be the "first domino" in a move away from plastic. Dominos is a game in which the pieces connect to each other. 9Gustavo Adolfo Meza-Cuadra Velasquez is a permanent member of the UN from Peru. He is the head of the negotiating committee. He called the need to deal with the world's plastic pollution "urgent" and said the world needs to work together "to bring a difference at the scale required." 10Two of the nations pushing an agreement are Norway and Rwanda. The nations released a statement earlier this month calling for an "ambitious" treaty that will protect human life and the environment. They are concerned about plastic pollution, plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions. 11Saudi Arabia is among the countries that have large oil industries. The nations include Iran, China, and Russia. They want the treaty to center on plastic waste control and not reduce the creation of plastic products. 12Activist concerns 13Environmental activists are concerned that those countries will not cooperate. Graham Forbes is with Greenpeace. He said it was "unfortunate" that a "handful of governments" are putting the interests of chemical companies ahead of "the health of the planet and their own citizens." 14Another climate activist is Erik Lindebjerg of the World Wildlife Fund based in Switzerland. He said the oil producing nations want to make the treaty a "loose voluntary agreement." He wants the agreement to be "a strong treaty." 15Negotiators for the U.S. said the treaty should have "meaningful" terms but also leave room for differences between countries so that an agreement can be reached. 16Chemical companies and oil companies such as ExxonMobil say they want the treaty to pay more attention to the lifespan of plastics instead of banning them. 17Chris Jahn is a spokesman for the International Council of Chemical Associations. He said the group should center its talks on "ending plastic pollution, not plastic production." 18Karen McKee of ExxonMobil noted improvements in the ability to recycle plastics at ExxonMobil's center in Baytown, Texas. 19The meeting ends on Sunday. The next meeting of the INC is next April in Ottawa, Canada. 20I'm Dan Friedell. 21Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. 22______________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24recycle -v. to make something new from old parts or materials 25bag -n. a container made of thin material such as paper or plastic 26initial -adj. first or at the beginning 27text -n. writing 28scale -n. the level of size, amount, intensity or similar quality 29ambitious -adj. having the desire for power, fame or success 30loose -adj. not closely linked or attached 31We want to hear from you. Do you think you can make do without plastic items?