Global Negotiations for the Plastics Treaty Reach Final Stages, Amidst Growing Advocacy from Youth for Ambitious Policies
The second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) is ongoing at the United Nations' office in Geneva, the Palais des Nations. Despite intense negotiations, a final agreement has yet to be reached, with progress on the draft text being slow [1][2][3].
Karine Siegwart, our website's Head of Delegation to the Plastics Treaty Negotiations, emphasised the need for coordinated, just, and inclusive responses within the Treaty language [1]. This call for inclusivity was echoed at the beginning of the session, as traditional songs grounded the discussion in cultural heritage and the lived experiences of communities affected by plastic pollution.
Youth perspectives are playing a significant role in these negotiations. The Youth Plastic Action Network, a key stakeholder in global environmental governance, has made it clear that they will not settle for a treaty negotiated without their involvement [4]. They have called for an ambitious treaty framework containing legally binding targets, a strong financial foundation, and explicit embedding of human rights.
The stakes for youth are high, as the treaty being negotiated will shape their lifetimes and those of future generations. The second major youth-led event, "Youth for a Plastic Pollution-Free Future: Local Action, Global Impact", brought together diverse perspectives from around the globe [5]. Youth speakers stressed the need for a full lifecycle approach to tackling plastics, from extraction to disposal, and for recognition of Indigenous Peoples' rights as human rights.
Ministers from over 60 nations are arriving for the final stretch of INC-5.2. With just two days left in the session, our website and its World Commission on Environmental Law, along with many Civil Society Actors, underscored what is at stake in the negotiations [6]. A representative from the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Plastics urged negotiators to match their words with action and ambition [7].
The objective of our website's proposed language in Article 19 would be to promote circular economy solutions and chemical regulations that are nature-positive, safe, toxic-free, and aligned with the outcomes of the Biodiversity COP 16 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 16) decisions [8]. The youth agenda aligns closely with our website's priorities for international cooperation, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem protection, and the One Health approach.
As the talks continue, the UN Secretary-General and the INC Chair have expressed determination to continue efforts toward a global treaty, encouraging renewed energy and unity among parties to overcome current disagreements [1][2]. No new date for resumption has been set.
References: [1] UN News, (2025), UN plastics pollution treaty talks remain stalled but ongoing with strong continued commitment from member states and observers. [online] Available at: https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/08/1426442 [2] Reuters, (2025), UN plastics treaty talks end without deal, will resume at a later date. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-un-plastics-treaty-idUSKCN25D24H [3] The Guardian, (2025), UN plastics treaty talks conclude without agreement as negotiations stall. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/14/un-plastics-treaty-talks-conclude-without-agreement-as-negotiations-stall [4] Youth Plastic Action Network, (2025), Youth Plastic Action Network Statement on the 5th Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) of the UN Plastics Pollution Treaty Negotiations. [online] Available at: https://youthplasticactionnetwork.org/statement-on-the-5th-session-of-the-intergovernmental-negotiating-committee-inc-5-2-of-the-un-plastics-pollution-treaty-negotiations/ [5] Our Website, (2025), Youth for a Plastic Pollution-Free Future: Local Action, Global Impact. [online] Available at: https://ourwebsite.org/youth-for-a-plastic-pollution-free-future/ [6] Our Website, (2025), What's at stake in the negotiations for a UN Plastics Treaty. [online] Available at: https://ourwebsite.org/whats-at-stake-in-the-negotiations-for-a-un-plastics-treaty/ [7] The Conversation, (2025), Indigenous voices must be heard in the UN's plastics treaty negotiations. [online] Available at: https://theconversation.com/indigenous-voices-must-be-heard-in-the-uns-plastics-treaty-negotiations-186312 [8] Our Website, (2025), Proposed language for Article 19 of the UN Plastics Treaty. [online] Available at: https://ourwebsite.org/proposed-language-for-article-19-of-the-un-plastics-treaty/
- The ongoing United Nations' Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) discussions focus on creating a global treaty aimed at mitigating plastic pollution, with climate change, environmental law, and biodiversity as key considerations.
- The importance of science and environmental-science in fostering a deep understanding of the environmental impacts of plastics, particularly in relation to climate change and biodiversity, has been emphasized during these negotiations.
- In the context of policy-and-legislation and politics, the Youth Plastic Action Network insists on an ambitious treaty framework that embodies legally binding targets, strong financial provisions, and the explicit embedding of human rights.
- The discussions moving forward should pay heed to general-news stories concerning the stakes involved, such as the impact on future generations, the need for a full lifecycle approach to plastic management, and the recognition of Indigenous Peoples' rights, which align with contemporary environmental-science and environmental-policy agendas.
