Contrary to their excuses, ambitious countries have the power and the pathways to forge a treaty to end the global plastic crisis. What we are severely lacking right now, however, is the determination of our leaders to do what is right and to fight for the treaty they promised the world two years ago.

The meeting between 175 parties was marked by a high degree of disagreement over whether the treaty should address the entire lifecycle of plastics and provide financial support from developed nations to aid developing countries in transitioning away from plastics.

International negotiations to create a legally binding treaty to stem the tide of plastic pollution ended in a stalemate on Monday — pushing talks past their initial deadline and into next year. More than 100 countries have shown support for limits on plastic manufacturing.

Countries have failed to reach an agreement to stem plastic pollution after a small number of oil-rich nations resisted efforts to limit production.

Negotiations on a treaty to end plastic pollution are drawing to a close as nations continue debating whether part of that should be putting limits on plastic production.