Young activists urge bold action as final negotiations for the Global Plastics Agreement draw to a close on August 12th, 2025
In the heart of Geneva, the Palais des Nations hosts the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2), aiming to establish a treaty to combat plastic pollution. However, the current status of the negotiations reveals ongoing challenges in terms of youth involvement, inclusivity, and adopting a full lifecycle approach.
Youth delegates have made it clear they will not settle for a treaty negotiated without their involvement. Despite their critical role in shaping the future, youth voices remain limited and sidelined in negotiations, with only a restricted number of badges granted for youth attendance and limited influence compared to industry representatives.
Indigenous Peoples, frontline communities, waste pickers, and youth have expressed strong disapproval of the process, stating that the negotiations have been structured "by design" to exclude and harm these affected communities. They highlight erasure and lack of meaningful participation, describing the process as failing to deliver an inclusive and just transition. These groups emphasize that a treaty "about us, without us, is erasing history" and call for their recognition as integral stakeholders.
A full lifecycle approach, addressing not only plastic waste management but also plastic production, design, and reduction, is supported by youth and civil society. However, powerful interests such as fossil fuel lobbyists and some member states are pushing for a treaty limited to managing plastic waste rather than mandating production reduction, creating a major point of contention.
With just two days left in INC-5.2, the outcome remains uncertain. The stakes for youth present are high, as the agreement will shape their lifetimes and those of future generations. The website and its World Commission on Environmental Law stand ready to support negotiators in the endeavor to deliver a treaty that will protect the planet for future generations.
Initiatives like the Bootcamp on Multilateral Environmental Agreements for YOUth and the our website Academy Introduction to Plastic Pollution Hotspotting Assessments are equipping the next generation with the technical skills and policy knowledge to influence complex negotiations. The UN's office at Geneva, the Palais des Nations, is hosting calls for courage, inclusion, and ambition on International Youth Day.
Plastic pollution is not just an environmental problem; it affects biodiversity, health, human rights, and livelihoods. Speakers at the session delivered urgent and personal testimonies, emphasizing the need for a full lifecycle approach to tackling plastics and recognition of Indigenous Peoples' rights as human rights. A representative from the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Plastics urged negotiators to match their words with action and ambition.
As the negotiations continue, diverse stakeholder groups urge governments to "fix the process" and keep the ambitious commitments outlined in the UN Environment Assembly resolution 5/14. Specialized partnerships like the Global Plastic Action Partnership are working to translate global negotiation commitments into real-world impact through national and multi-sector collaborations.
In summary, the treaty on plastic pollution is still in flux, facing significant political, social, and procedural challenges before achieving the ambition of a truly global, inclusive, and effective instrument on plastic pollution. The voices of youth, Indigenous Peoples, and marginalized communities must be heard and integrated into the negotiations for a treaty that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of all.
[1] Source: [Link to the source if available] [2] Source: [Link to the source if available] [3] Source: [Link to the source if available] [4] Source: [Link to the source if available] [5] Source: [Link to the source if available]
- The youth delegates advocate for a treaty on plastic pollution that is negotiated with their involvement, stating that limited representation and influence encourages erasure of their critical voices in shaping the future.
- The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) faces opposition from Indigenous Peoples, frontline communities, waste pickers, and youth, who find the structured negotiations to be exclusive and harmful to their communities.
- A full lifecycle approach, backed by youth and civil society, calls for addressing plastic production, design, and reduction, whereas powerful interests focus on managing plastic waste instead of mandating production reduction.
- As the treaty on plastic pollution is negotiated, diverse stakeholder groups like the Global Plastic Action Partnership are leveraging their partnerships to ensure commitments made at the UN Environment Assembly are translated into tangible real-world action.
[1] Source: [2] Source: [3] Source: [4] Source: [5] Source:
