Negotiations for a global plastics treaty in Geneva, during the first two weeks of August, stalled, leaving a major international effort to combat plastic pollution in limbo. The talks, which began in 2022 with a resolution signed by 175 countries, ended on August 15 without consensus.
The core problem was a fundamental disagreement between two main groups of nations. The High Ambition Coalition, a majority of countries, pushed for a treaty with legally binding measures to reduce plastic production and regulate plastic chemicals and problematic products.
On the other side were a small number of oil-producing nations—including Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iran—who argued for a weaker treaty focused solely on non-binding reporting and waste management. Since plastics are made primarily from petrochemicals, these “petro-states” blocked any serious measures to reverse the plastics crisis.
“It’s an Empty Shell”
The majority of countries rejected a watered-down draft treaty that was presented for possible adoption at the negotiation session. As Camila Zepeda, Mexico’s head of delegation, stated, “It’s not even a treaty, it’s an empty shell.” The draft also lacked obligations on financing, making it, in the words of Micronesian negotiator Dennis Clare, “a waste management framework without any clear funding.”
This collapse points to the profound difficulty of getting those most responsible for environmental damage to agree to the regulations necessary to protect the environment. As Mr. Clare put it, the issue wasn’t the talks themselves, but “the logic of continuing or concluding them in a forum with dedicated obstructionists.”
Disappointment, but Still Hope
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen expressed “disappointment” over the collapse, acknowledging that progress was made, but stressing that the failure puts people and the planet at risk. She indicated the need to remain committed to the process, emphasizing that stopping plastic pollution is a long-term effort and that “this work will not stop.”
What’s Next? Three Possible Paths Forward
According to Felix Wertli, Swiss Ambassador for the Environment, the international community now faces three possible paths forward:
- Continue Negotiations: While this option maintains a multilateral approach, it risks ongoing deadlock and a weak treaty.
- Form a Coalition of the Willing: A group of motivated countries could take the lead and create their own, more ambitious agreement.
- Build on Existing Agreements: The international community could leverage existing frameworks, such as the Basel Convention on Hazardous Waste, to address plastic pollution.
For Wertli, one thing is clear: inaction isn’t an option. Plastic pollution continues to grow, and the world urgently needs cooperative solutions.
A Change in Mindset Is Critical
The failure to reach a meaningful agreement underscores a profound lack of ambition. Chris Guillot, co-founder of the nonprofit AwareNearth and a Steering Committee Member of MEGA was present during the long deliberations. He noted, “as long as plastic is seen more as a miracle and economic solution rather than an existential threat, no agreement will be reached.”
“Like the Montreal Protocol, which succeeded by treating ozone depletion as a critical threat, progress on plastics demands a similar shift: a change in mindset and political will that prioritizes intergenerational justice, governance, and ethical responsibility over all else.”
