World agrees to tackle plastic pollution but production may still rise

Analysis: Global agreement offers hope but falls short of pledging to cut levels of new plastic, Liam James reports

Countries have agreed to tackle plastic pollution (AP)

Plastic pollution is said to be nearly as big a threat to the planet as climate change.

Warnings that plastics can take thousands of years to break down and are already causing untold damage to marine life have not as yet commanded the type of international action afforded to greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental catastrophes.

This is now set to change as the United Nations Environment Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution signed by 175 countries that sets off negotiations for a global treaty to tackle rising plastic pollution.