Negotiations for a comprehensive international agreement continue beyond the fourth day
The negotiations for a global treaty against plastic pollution, held at the United Nations in Geneva in August 2025, have hit a roadblock, failing to finalize a legally binding agreement to tackle plastic pollution throughout its lifecycle.
The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) initially aimed to conclude a historic agreement to combat plastic waste, which is projected to reach 1.7 billion metric tons by 2060. However, despite the urgency and mounting costs of plastic pollution, the parties could not agree on stricter, legally enforceable measures.
The main reasons for the stalemate include disagreements among countries over the strictness and enforceability of rules to reduce plastic production and pollution. A growing group of countries, dubbed "ambitious," wants global measures to regulate plastic production and curb its related damage to ecosystems and human health. On the other hand, a group of mainly oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia, Iran, Malaysia, and the United States, is hindering the negotiations under the nickname "like-minded countries."
The "ambitious" group, which includes 27 EU countries, many Latin American, African, and Asian countries, Australia, the UK, Switzerland, Canada, and most island nations, is calling for the treaty to include a clause for reducing the exponential production of plastics, which is set to triple by 2060. They emphasize the need for a strong, legally binding treaty that manages plastic pollution comprehensively, including design, production, use, and disposal.
However, some nations resist stringent restrictions or binding targets, often citing concerns about economic impacts, feasibility, and the need to balance environmental goals with developmental priorities. These countries are primarily concerned with plastic waste, particularly tourism-related waste.
Despite not reaching consensus, most countries have expressed a desire to remain engaged in the process and continue negotiations to bridge the gaps. European Commissioner for the Environment Jessika Roswall wants negotiations to speed up and has called on all parties to be constructive and results-oriented.
Eirik Lindebjerg, a plastic policies advisor at WWF, warned that time is running out for a strong treaty against plastic pollution. He and other NGOs believe that a vote may be necessary to finalize the treaty to prevent it from being empty and lacking binding global rules or bans.
Working groups have discussed technical issues such as the design and production of plastic, waste management, and funding for waste collection in developing countries. Delegates from 184 countries are participating in the discussions. Seventy ministers and around 30 high-ranking officials, including the environment ministers of about 100 countries, are expected to attend the negotiations in Geneva to help unblock the end of the discussions.
Roswall expressed concern that there are more parentheses (unagreed paragraphs) in the treaty text than there is plastic in the sea. She called on all parties to find a solution through consensus, but Lindebjerg stated that the "ambitious majority" has been blocked by a few countries, and finding a solution through consensus is an illusion.
The goal is to deliver the first global treaty against plastic pollution by Thursday. However, the outcome remains uncertain as negotiations continue in Geneva.
- The "ambitious" group, consisting of 27 EU countries, many Latin American, African, Asian countries, Australia, the UK, Switzerland, Canada, and most island nations, is advocating for the environmental-science branch of policy-and-legislation, urging the treaty to incorporate measures for reducing the exponential production of plastics.
- Among the nations resisting stringent restrictions are those primarily concerned with plastic waste, particularly related to tourism, who cite economic impacts, feasibility, and developmental priorities as reasons for their resistance.
- As the negotiations approach the deadline for delivering the first global treaty against plastic pollution, debates persist over climate-change policies regarding plastic production, with the "like-minded countries" blocking progress towards a strong, legally binding agreement in the general-news of environmental-science and politics.
