The German government is prepared to pursue international agreements on plastic waste reduction independently of nations hindering progress in ongoing United Nations negotiations, according to a senior official. Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, indicated in a recent interview with ARD-Tagesthemen that Germany would not allow a few dissenting countries to derail crucial action.
Negotiations in Geneva, aimed at establishing a global treaty to combat plastic pollution, are proving particularly challenging, largely due to what officials describe as a growing global lack of solidarity, spearheaded by the United States and Russia’s unwillingness to participate. Achieving consensus on key measures, such as limiting primary plastic production, has been identified as a significant hurdle. Flasbarth emphasized the necessity of such limitations for long-term effectiveness.
Regarding domestic recycling efforts, Flasbarth acknowledged Germany’s strong standing in international comparisons. However, he noted that improvements are needed to advance the concept of “closed-loop” recycling – transforming waste materials back into high-quality products – a goal he stated requires a concerted effort across the entire European Union.