Plastic pollution treaty talks open with 'global crisis' warning

A young Afghan child worker sorts recyclable plastic cans at a recycling yard on the outskirts of Kabul on August 5, 2025. [AFP

The 184 countries gathering to forge a landmark treaty on combating plastic pollution were told Tuesday they must find a way to tackle a global crisis wrecking ecosystems and trashing the oceans.

States should seize the chance to shape history, the man chairing the talks said as 10 days of negotiations kicked off at the United Nations in Geneva.