Negotiations in Geneva over a global plastics treaty collapsed amid sharp disagreement on key issues, leaving hopes of a legally binding agreement in limbo. Delegates from 183 countries failed to reach consensus, marking a second missed opportunity to finalise the world’s first treaty to curb plastic pollution.

Opening with high expectations, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee aimed to build on prior progress and resolve enduring disputes. This second part of the fifth session took place from 5 to 15 August in Geneva under the United Nations Environment Programme. Over 2,600 participants, including some 1,400 delegates and nearly 70 ministerial-level attendees, convened at the Palais des Nations to conclude negotiations that had begun in Busan in late 2024.

At the core of the impasse lay a bitter divide: over 100 countries, including European nations and small island developing states, pushed for binding limits on plastic production, whereas plastic‑producing nations such as the United States, India, Gulf states and others resisted, favouring a focus on waste management and voluntary measures. Attempts to adopt the Chair’s text—initially issued in Busan in December 2024 and subsequently revised in August—failed to garner sufficient support, with many delegations criticising the proposals as either too weak or overly ambitious.

Calls to shift away from the entrenched consensus‑based decision‑making system gained steam. Advocates argued that the requirement for unanimous agreement allowed a small number of countries to block progress, and that voting mechanisms, originally allowed under INC procedures, should be invoked to overcome stalemate. Meanwhile, proposals surfaced to bring plastics negotiations under existing frameworks, such as adding a protocol to the Basel Convention, or to forge a break‑away coalition of willing countries capable of moving forward more nimbly.

Industry and business voices also weighed in, warning that the absence of a harmonised global treaty hinders investment in recycling infrastructure and circular solutions. The Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty continued to press for extended producer responsibility schemes and unified regulations to enable the shift towards a circular economy. In parallel, environmental groups accused petrochemical lobbyists of undermining ambition. Observers highlighted that fossil fuel‑linked nations and corporate delegates outnumbered even EU state representatives, skewing negotiations toward weaker outcomes.

Diplomatic reactions were mixed. Many countries expressed disappointment and frustration at the outcome, but maintained that a treaty remains the goal. INC Chair Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso urged continued engagement, reiterating determination to unite and protect both environment and human health. UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen echoed that, despite the stalled conclusion, the treaty process will continue.

One significant geopolitical shift was signalled by China, which broke from the position of many fossil‑fuel‑dependent countries. In closing statements, Chinese delegates endorsed an approach covering the full plastics lifecycle—from production to disposal—marking a major departure from earlier aligned stances.

Environmental experts warned that without bold action, the crisis will deepen. Plastic production is forecast to triple by 2060, and global waste volumes are set to balloon accordingly, with only a fraction recycled. The stakes extend beyond environmental damage—plastic pollution now carries substantial risks to health and livelihoods.

Amid growing recognition of how entrenched interests and procedural barriers thwart progress, calls for reform and alternative negotiation pathways are increasing—and may shape the next chapter in the push for a global plastics treaty.
Reuters
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