By: Hadeer Elhadary
Ten days of intense negotiations in Geneva ended without consensus on a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution. Despite wide recognition of the urgency of the crisis and calls from citizens, scientists, and civil society groups, political divisions and resistance from key petro-states stalled progress. While UN leaders stress that the process must continue, environmental advocates warn that delays risk deepening the plastic crisis that threatens ecosystems, health, and future generations.
Stalled Progress in Geneva
The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2), attended by more than 2,600 participants from 183 countries, was tasked with finalizing the text of a Global Plastics Treaty. Delegates engaged in marathon sessions, including all-night negotiations, but the talks concluded without agreement.
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), described the discussions as “hard-fought” in a tense global context but emphasized one positive outcome: “All countries clearly want to remain at the table.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed “deep regret” at the failure to reach consensus but welcomed the determination of member states to continue efforts, stressing that the world urgently needs a treaty to “tackle this monumental challenge.”
Stakes of Inaction
The urgency of the negotiations was underscored by UNEP’s warning that plastic production and waste could triple by 2060 if no global accord is reached, causing devastating impacts on health, ecosystems, and economies.
Plastic has become omnipresent—from groundwater and soil to oceans and even human bodies. Campaigners at Geneva reminded negotiators that plastic pollution is not only an environmental crisis but also a human health emergency.
Switzerland’s environment chief, Katrin Schneeberger, noted that plastic waste is “choking our lakes, harming wildlife and threatening human health,” calling for a comprehensive treaty covering the entire life cycle of plastics, from design and production to waste management.
Civil Society and Global Voices
The Geneva session was notable for the active involvement of civil society groups, including Indigenous Peoples, waste pickers, artists, youth, and scientists. Their presence was visible through protests, art installations, and advocacy events around the Palais des Nations.
The Ocean Cleanup, a leading NGO working to remove plastic from rivers and seas, expressed deep concern at the failure of talks: “Every delay means more plastic entering our rivers and oceans. To truly end plastic pollution, we need global cooperation and a global treaty.”
Youth representatives echoed this urgency. Campaigners highlighted links between plastics and climate change, reproductive health, and disabilities, underscoring the broad spectrum of risks tied to unchecked pollution.
Divisions Among Nations
Observers point to geopolitical divides as the main obstacle. The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) accused petro-states of blocking progress, prioritizing short-term profits over environmental survival.
Christina Dixon, EIA’s Ocean Campaign Leader, warned: “No deal is better than a toothless treaty that locks us into further inaction.”
EIA Senior Lawyer Tim Grabiel went further, accusing petro-states of having “taken the plastics treaty hostage” and trying to “strangle it in the bathtub.”
Despite support from a majority of nations for ambitious measures, opposition from a small but influential group prevented consensus on critical issues such as production caps, chemicals of concern, and compliance mechanisms.
Looking Ahead
Negotiators will reconvene at a later date, though no timeline has been confirmed. INC Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso urged delegates not to lose hope: “Failing to reach the goal we set for ourselves may bring sadness, even frustration. Yet it should not lead to discouragement.”
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) reaffirmed its commitment, noting it has already invested $1 billion in plastic pollution solutions and stands ready to support treaty implementation once agreed.
For now, the fight against plastic pollution remains fragmented. Civil society, scientists, and international organizations vow to sustain pressure. As UNEP’s Inger Andersen put it: “People are demanding a treaty.” The world will be watching to see if governments can match that demand with action.