US blamed for blocking plastic pollution targets

Representatives of countries at the UN environment conference in Nairobi agreed to significantly reduce single-use plastics over the next decade, but the voluntary pledges fell far short of what was required, according to green groups. The Guardian reports that Norway, Japan and Sri Lanka had put forward proposals for a legally binding agreement for nations to coordinate action against plastic litter in the oceans and microplastics. India also suggested strong action with a resolution to phase out single-use plastic across the world. However, a coalition of environmental groups condemned the US for blocking the ambitious attempts to tackle plastic pollution at source as well as downstream. On Friday, a series of non-binding proposals were agreed, including the adoption of an action plan by the International Maritime Organisation’s marine environment protection committee to reduce plastic litter from ships, and suggestions for better global management of data on plastic pollution. A final statement said countries would ‘address the damage to our ecosystems caused by the unsustainable use and disposal of plastic products, including by significantly reducing single-use plastic by 2030’. BBC News reports that more than eight m i l l i o n tonnes of plastics enter the world's oceans each year.