Published: November 28th, 2024,
Last updated: May 28th, 2025

Over 170 countries are currently negotiating a global plastics deal under the umbrella of the United Nations in Busan, South Korea. The agreement is also important for climate action, as plastic is generally made from fossil fuels. According to calculations by the information portal Carbon Brief, around five percent of global GHG emissions can be attributed to the production, use and disposal of plastic. These calculations show that plastic production is primarily responsible for the rising demand for crude oil.