Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 2...

Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30.

In late November 2024, delegates from over 170 countries gathered in Busan, South Korea, for a historic United Nations conference on plastic pollution. UN members reached a pivotal consensus to establish the world's first legally binding global treaty addressing this environmental crisis. This agreement regulates the entire lifecycle of plastics – from production and consumption to disposal and remediation. The negotiations were marked by substantial divisions between nations prioritising production limits and those advocating primarily for enhanced recycling infrastructure and waste management solutions.

The treaty adopts a holistic framework recognising plastic pollution as a systemic crisis requiring intervention at multiple stages. By 2060, global plastic production is projected to reach approximately 1.1 billion tonnes annually – nearly triple current levels – threatening to overwhelm existing waste management capacities worldwide. Meanwhile, microplastic contamination continues infiltrating marine ecosystems, agricultural soil, and human bloodstreams. The agreement acknowledges that sustainable solutions must address both the surging demand for virgin plastics and widespread reliance on single-use products that exacerbate environmental degradation.

Developing nations emerged as crucial stakeholders, emphasising that industrialised countries bear historical responsibility for cumulative plastic pollution. Many lower-income states lack adequate infrastructure to process plastic waste effectively, yet frequently endure disproportionate environmental and health consequences from pollution originating beyond their borders. The final treaty incorporates mechanisms for financial assistance and technology transfer, enabling these countries to adopt sustainable alternatives and establish waste management systems without compromising economic development.

Despite this achievement, significant obstacles remain toward meaningful implementation. Petrochemical industry representatives and major plastic-producing nations successfully diluted several ambitious provisions, including mandatory caps on virgin plastic production and bans on harmful plastic items. Environmental groups have voiced concerns that without rigorous enforcement protocols and quantifiable targets, the treaty may function as symbolic rhetoric rather than genuine catalyst for change. Nevertheless, supporters maintain that creating this legal framework constitutes essential progress, establishing momentum for increasingly stringent future requirements.

(Adapted from https://www.theguardian.com)

Question 23. Which paragraph mentions resistance from commercial and industrial sectors?

A. Paragraph 1                B. Paragraph 2        C. Paragraph 3                 D. Paragraph 4