International summits fall short as nations struggle to address environmental crises
Global efforts to combat climate change, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss stalled in 2024 due to ineffective U.N. negotiations, entrenched interests and geopolitical divides.
Seth Borenstein and Sibi Arasu report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Recent U.N. summits on climate, plastic pollution, biodiversity and desertification failed to yield significant progress.
- The consensus-based system allows a few nations, often influenced by fossil fuel interests, to delay global agreements.
- Experts are exploring alternative solutions, including legal actions and smaller "climate clubs" of committed nations.
Key quote:
"Multilateralism isn’t dead, but it is being held hostage by a very small number of countries trying to prevent progress. There’s no greater example of this than the way that the fossil fuel industry has hijacked policymaking at all levels."
— Al Gore, former U.S. vice president
Why this matters:
Global cooperation is essential for addressing widespread environmental threats. When multilateral talks fail, vulnerable nations suffer the most, and delays increase the risks of catastrophic climate impacts. Alternative strategies may provide a path forward, but time is running out.
Related: Leading experts push for reform in UN climate summits
