Talks on global plastic pollution treaty adjourn without consensus

Each year, the world produces more than 460 million tonnes of plastic. Only a fraction is recycled, while the rest ends up in rubbish tips, is burnt or pollutes soils, rivers and seas. Since this growing surge of plastic is not only harming the environment but also our health, around 180 countries have spent several years negotiating  a global, legally binding treaty to reduce amounts of plastic waste. 

Following ten days of negotiations, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee of the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), in short INC, talks to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, adjourned early on the 15th August without consensus on a text of the instrument. 

According to a press release by UNEP, the meeting was adjourned with a clearly expressed desire by Member States to continue the process, recognising the significant difference of views between states.   

At the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiations Committee (INC-5.2) more than 2,600 participants gathered at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, including over 1,400 Member delegates from 183 countries and close to 1,000 Observers representing over 400 organisations. Some 70 Ministers and Vice Ministers, as well as 30 other high-level representatives, also held informal roundtables on the margins of the session.  

“This has been a hard-fought ten days against the backdrop of geopolitical complexities, economic challenges, and multilateral strains. However, one thing remains clear: despite these complexities, all countries clearly want to remain at the table” said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen,  adding: “While we did not land the treaty text we hoped for, we at UNEP will continue the work against plastic pollution – pollution that is in our groundwater, in our soil, in our rivers, in our oceans and, yes, in our bodies”.

The goal of the Conference was to agree on the instrument’s text and highlight unresolved issues requiring further preparatory work ahead of a diplomatic conference. 

A Chair’s Text from the last session (INC-5.1) having taken place in Busan/Republic of Korea, in December 2024, served as the starting point for negotiations in Geneva, with the Chair releasing a Draft Text Proposal and a Revised Text Proposal over the course of the session. Despite intensive engagement, Members of the Committee were unable to reach consensus on the proposed texts. 

“Failing to reach the goal we set for ourselves may bring sadness, even frustration. Yet it should not lead to discouragement. On the contrary, it should spur us to regain our energy, renew our commitments and unite our aspirations,” said INC Chair Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso. “It has not happened yet in Geneva, but I have no doubt that the day will come when the international community will unite its will and join hands to protect our environment and safeguard the health of our people.”  

This INC process kicked off in March 2022, at the resumed fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), when a historic resolution was adopted to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.   

“As this session in Geneva concludes, we leave with an understanding of the challenges ahead and a renewed and shared commitment to address them,” said Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary of the INC Secretariat. “Progress must now be our obligation.”  

The session also involved the active participation of civil society – including Indigenous Peoples, waste pickers, artists, young people and scientists – who raised their voices through protests, art installations, press briefings and events at and around the Palais. 

(UNEP/BMUK/wi)

More information:
For more information on a global plastic pollution treaty, visit the website of UNEP