Global Plastic Pollution Treaty Talks Adjourn Without Agreement, Future of Negotiations Uncertain

Talks to develop a global plastic pollution treaty have concluded without an agreement, marking a significant setback in the international effort to combat plastic waste. Following 10 days of intense negotiations in Geneva, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) failed to reach a consensus on a draft text for the proposed legally binding instrument.

The meeting, which drew over 2,600 participants from 183 countries, adjourned early on August 15, leaving the future of the treaty in limbo. While all member states expressed a desire to continue the process, the deep divisions and “significant difference of views” between countries proved to be an insurmountable hurdle for this session.

The failure to land a treaty text was a disappointment for many, including UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, who noted that plastic pollution is now pervasive in our environment and even in our bodies. The goal of this session was to finalize the instrument’s text or, at the very least, identify and highlight key unresolved issues for further preparatory work.

The negotiations were structured with multiple contact groups tackling complex areas such as plastic design, chemicals of concern, production caps, finance, and compliance. However, despite a Chair’s Text serving as a starting point and subsequent revisions, consensus could not be reached, suggesting profound disagreements on the fundamental aspects of the treaty.

While the outcome was not what negotiators had hoped for, leaders urged against discouragement. INC Chair Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso stated that the setback should “spur us to regain our energy, renew our commitments, and unite our aspirations.”

He expressed confidence that the international community will eventually come together to protect the environment. The process, which began in March 2022, has been a long and complex one, and this latest session underscores the challenges of navigating geopolitical complexities and economic differences in a multilateral context.

The active participation of civil society, including protests and events by environmental groups, indigenous peoples, and youth, served as a constant reminder of the high stakes and the global public’s demand for action. With no future date set for the resumption of talks, the world must now wait for the next step in this critical global negotiation.