Talks on Global Plastics Treaty End Without Agreement in Geneva

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Talks on Global Plastics Treaty End

‎Talks on Global Plastics Treaty End Without Agreement in Geneva

‎By Gloria Sarauniya Usman

‎GENEVA, August 2025 – The latest round of United Nations negotiations aimed at forging a legally binding global treaty to curb plastic pollution has ended without consensus. After 10 days of talks, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) adjourned its resumed fifth session (INC-5.2) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on Friday, with Member States agreeing to resume discussions at a later date.

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‎The session, which brought together more than 2,600 participants, including delegates from 183 countries, over 400 organizations, and some 70 ministers, was tasked with finalising a draft treaty text. Despite intensive negotiations through contact groups and informal consultations, deep divisions remained on issues such as plastic design, production caps, chemicals of concern, financing, and compliance.

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‎UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director, Inger Andersen, acknowledged the challenges but stressed the urgency of continued action. “While we did not land the treaty text we hoped for, we at UNEP will continue the work against plastic pollution – pollution that is in our groundwater, in our soil, in our rivers, in our oceans and yes, in our bodies,” she said.

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‎INC Chair, Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso, urged delegates not to be discouraged, describing the adjournment as a temporary setback. “Failing to reach the goal we set for ourselves may bring sadness, even frustration. Yet it should not lead to discouragement. On the contrary, it should spur us to regain our energy, renew our commitments, and unite our aspirations,” he noted.

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‎The INC process began in March 2022 when the UN Environment Assembly adopted a historic resolution to develop a global treaty on plastic pollution. Previous sessions were held in Uruguay, France, Kenya, Canada, and South Korea. The Geneva session also saw strong participation from civil society groups, including Indigenous peoples, waste pickers, youth activists, and scientists, underscoring the growing public demand for urgent action to tackle the plastics crisis.

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