Global Plastic Pollution Treaty Negotiations End in Failure
UN negotiations for a global treaty on plastic pollution end without agreement.
Key Points
- • Negotiations lasted 11 days but ended without consensus.
- • Countries remain divided over regulation of plastics' lifecycle versus waste management.
- • Swedish Commissioner Jessika Roswall called for renewed negotiations despite unmet expectations.
- • Global plastic production is projected to increase by 300% by 2060 without intervention.
Negotiations at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva concluded on August 15, 2025, without reaching an agreement on a global framework aimed at addressing plastic production and waste management. Spanning 11 days, these talks mirrored a similar unsuccessful meeting held in South Korea the previous year. Delegates from 184 countries left empty-handed, expressing disappointment over failed discussions that were intended to culminate in a historic treaty to combat global plastic pollution.
Luis Vayas Valdivieso, the chair of the negotiating committee, presented two draft agreements, but they were not accepted by the participants. Countries remained sharply divided, with a camp advocating for comprehensive regulation covering the entire lifecycle of plastics—including production, recycling, and chemical restrictions—and another focused solely on post-production waste management. This division includes several oil-producing nations, which have voiced strong opposition to more stringent regulations.
Swedish EU Commissioner Jessika Roswall expressed frustration over the outcome, acknowledging the unmet expectations but also stressing that the drafts could serve as a groundwork for future negotiations. The negotiations highlighted a critical statistic: global plastic production is projected to soar by 300% by 2060 unless significant actions are taken, and currently, only 10% of plastics are recycled.
As the delegates depart, calls for a renewed negotiation round grow louder, with hopes for more cohesive global action against plastic pollution.