Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations Collapse, Many Delegates Are Angry!
On August 14, international negotiations aimed at creating a landmark global treaty to combat plastic pollution concluded in Geneva without a deal, with countries failing to bridge deep divisions over the scope of action needed.
Delegates from 185 countries met from August 5 to 14 to try to reach an agreement. Six previous rounds of intergovernmental negotiations (INCs) over three years had failed to reach a consensus. Negotiations continued overnight after a Thursday deadline, but divisions remained: one side advocated for a treaty that should limit plastic production and phase out toxic chemicals, while the other, led by oil-producing countries and the United States, preferred a focus on back-end waste management.
"Plastics are fundamental to modern life and are ubiquitous," said Ross Eisenberg, president of the Plastics Manufacturers Association. "The priority here should be ending plastic pollution, not ending plastic production," he added, warning that replacing plastic with alternative materials could cause unforeseen problems.
Delegates expressed disappointment and even anger that the 10-day negotiations failed to produce any agreement.
The Cuban representative declared a historic opportunity missed. "But we must move forward and act urgently," they said. "The planet and future generations need this treaty."
Colombia stated, "Negotiations have been blocked by a small number of countries that simply do not want an agreement."
Speaking on behalf of 14 Pacific Small Island Developing States, one representative said, "For our islands, this means that without global cooperation and national action, millions of tons of plastic waste will continue to be dumped into our oceans, impacting our ecosystems, food security, livelihoods, and cultures."
The High Aim Coalition (which includes the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, and many African and Latin American countries) supports addressing the plastics problem at the production stage. The "Group of Like-Minded Countries," including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia, Iran, and Malaysia, opposes this approach, arguing that the focus should be on back-end waste management.
China's speech was also noteworthy, particularly its observation that plastic pollution is far more complex than anticipated, spanning the entire chain of production, consumption, recycling, and waste management; and that plastic pollution is intertwined with climate change and biodiversity issues, making it difficult for any single solution to address them. Over the past three years, my country has achieved solid results in addressing plastic pollution, including improving regulations and systems, strengthening pollution control, a comprehensive ban on waste plastic imports, implementing phased bans and restrictions, reducing the use of single-use, non-essential plastic products, and promoting specific measures and results for sustainable production and consumption.
On August 13, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, chair of the talks, drafted a text based on limited areas of consensus, but it was rejected by both sides. A revised version produced after midnight on August 14 also failed to lead to an agreement, and negotiators concluded before sunrise that no further progress could be made.
Basis for Further Negotiations
However, the EU believes the latest draft "lays a good foundation for restarting negotiations," and South Africa emphasizes that "the process cannot end here," leaving a glimmer of hope for a seventh round of negotiations.
Over 400 million tons of plastic are produced globally each year, half of which is used in single-use products. Of the total plastic waste generated, 15% is collected for recycling, but only 9% is actually recycled. Approximately 46% is landfilled, 17% is incinerated, and 22% is mismanaged and becomes waste.
Dr Costas Velis, associate professor of waste and resource engineering at Imperial College London, said: "We do need to improve recycling... but we really can't expect that to solve all our problems with plastics."
