The latest round of United Nations negotiations aimed at creating a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution concluded in Geneva on Friday without agreement, exposing sharp divisions among participating […]

The latest round of United Nations negotiations aimed at creating a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution concluded in Geneva on Friday without agreement, exposing sharp divisions among participating nations.

The session, held at the UN Palais des Nations, gathered more than 2,600 participants, including 1,400 delegates from 183 countries. It marked the continuation of the fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2), which began in Busan earlier this year.

The UN Environment Assembly initiated the process with the ambitious goal of establishing a treaty that covers the full lifecycle of plastics, from production and design to waste management. While Civil society groups actively supported this comprehensive scope outside of negotiation rooms, negotiators were seeking common ground on contentious issues.

At the heart of the talks was the debate over whether the treaty should impose limits on plastic production. A coalition of over 100 countries, including European leaders and those most affected by plastic pollution, advocated for production caps. In contrast, petrochemical producers such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait rejected the proposal outright, insisting that production controls fell outside the treaty’s scope. The stalemate ultimately prevented consensus and left the process without a clear path forward.

Intense negotiations unfolded over ten days, particularly in four smaller contact groups, designed to encourage more flexible discussions than formal plenary sessions. Aside from the main controversial point of production caps, plastic design standards, chemicals of concern, and compliance mechanisms were also thoroughly discussed by the participants. 

Despite significant efforts, delegates could not resolve the central dispute. The broader goal, outlined in the UN Environment Assembly’s 2022 Resolution 5.2, is to finalize a global treaty curbing plastic pollution, with binding measures on toxic chemicals and unchecked production growth.

UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Inger Andersen acknowledged the lack of progress, stating that no date has been set for the next session, but emphasized public pressure for action: “People are demanding a treaty.”

The outcome drew criticism from civil society organizations, with some branding the deadlock a “blow to multilateralism.” Reflecting on the impasse, Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary of the INC Secretariat, said: “As this session concludes, we leave with an understanding of the challenges ahead and a renewed and shared commitment to address them. Progress must now be our obligation.”

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https://esgnews.com/plastic-treaty-talks-stall-in-geneva-but-countries-commit-to-continue-negotiations/

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/15/plastic-pollution-talks-geneva-treaty