Global Talks Fail Again: No Deal Reached on World’s First Legally Binding Treaty on Plastic Pollution

Despite intense negotiations in Geneva, countries remain divided over cutting plastic production vs. improving recycling, stalling progress on the world’s first legally binding treaty on plastic pollution as environmental and island nations express deep frustration.

Efforts to reach a historic global agreement to end plastic pollution have once again failed, as the sixth round of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) talks, held in Geneva, collapsed without a deal. Despite negotiations stretching late into the night on Thursday and into the early hours of Friday, delegates from over 180 countries were unable to resolve major differences over the scope and ambition of the proposed treaty.

The INC was established in 2022 by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) to develop the world’s first legally binding treaty on plastic pollution—a global crisis that affects ecosystems, human health, and economies. This latest session in Geneva was originally intended to be the final round of talks, following similar failed efforts during the fifth session in Busan, South Korea in 2023.

Cut Production vs. Manage Waste

At the core of the deadlock is a fundamental split between two blocs of nations:

• The High Ambition Coalition—which includes the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, and numerous Latin American and African countries—has called for a phased reduction in the production of virgin plastic, the elimination of toxic chemicals, and the redesign of plastic products to make recycling more efficient.

  
  

• In contrast, the Like-Minded Group of oil-producing states such as Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, Kuwait, and Malaysia, argue that the treaty should not restrict plastic production, but instead focus on improving waste management infrastructure and recycling systems. They see plastic as a critical component of future economic development, especially as the world shifts away from fossil fuels for energy.

This dispute reflects a deeper concern: plastics are derived from fossil fuels, and as demand for oil in energy sectors declines, many oil-producing nations view plastics as a key market for the future.

Failed Negotiations, Frustration Mounts

Chair of the negotiating committee, Luis Vayas Valdivieso of Ecuador, presented two separate drafts of the treaty text. However, neither was accepted as a basis for further negotiations. In the final session, Vayas banged his gavel—symbolically made from recycled plastic bottle caps—and adjourned the meeting, leaving the next steps unclear.

Countries expressed growing frustration and dismay:

• South Africa said it was “disappointed that it was not possible for this session to agree a legally binding treaty.”

• Cuba lamented that negotiators had “missed a historic opportunity.”

• France’s Ecological Transition Minister, Agnes Pannier-Runacher, voiced anger and disappointment, blaming “a small number of countries guided by short-term financial interests” for blocking progress.

• Palau, representing 39 Small Island Developing States (SIDS), said: “It is unjust for [our countries] to face the brunt of yet another global environmental crisis we contribute minimally to.”

Why Plastic Pollution Is Urgent

Plastic pollution is now recognized as a global environmental and human health crisis:

• Global plastic production has surged from 2 million tonnes in 1950 to around 475 million tonnes in 2022, and is projected to keep increasing without strong regulatory intervention.

• Only about 10% of plastic is currently recycled globally, with recycling efficiency capped at around 30%, even under optimistic future projections.

• As plastics degrade, they release microplastics—tiny fragments that have been detected in soil, rivers, oceans, the air, and even inside human organs. These may contain toxic chemicals known to disrupt hormones and damage organs.

Many scientists argue that improved recycling alone will not solve the crisis. Structural reductions in plastic production and stronger regulation on the design and chemical composition of plastic products are necessary to address the root cause.

Industry and Business Perspectives

Despite resistance from oil-rich nations, the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty—led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and supported by companies like Nestlé and Unilever—backed the High Ambition Coalition's stance. They advocated for:

• Standardized design of plastic products (e.g., using clear plastic bottles over colored ones for better recycling value).

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, where producers pay fees to support recycling and waste management efforts. The coalition estimates that implementing EPR globally could double recycling revenues to $576 billion by 2040.

No Clear Timeline Ahead

The deadline for a final agreement had already been extended once, with an original target of December 2024. This latest collapse in Geneva pushes negotiations further off track.

Although the EU delegation described the latest draft as a "good basis for future negotiations", oil states remained critical.

Kuwait said its views were “not reflected,” and Saudi Arabia called the process “problematic.”

The possibility of a seventh round of negotiations was hinted at, but no dates were announced.

Reactions from Environmental Groups

Environmental organisations reacted strongly to the collapse:

“The inability to reach an agreement in Geneva must be a wakeup call for the world,” said Graham Forbes, head of delegation for Greenpeace.“Ending plastic pollution means confronting fossil fuel interests head-on. A handful of bad actors were allowed to use the process to drive ambition into the ground.”

As it stands, no binding commitments have been made, and plastic pollution continues to escalate. With widespread international support for stronger measures—and a small but powerful opposition resisting any limits on plastic production—the world remains at a crossroads.

Negotiators agree on one thing: the talks cannot end here. “Plastic pollution is a global crisis that no country can solve alone,” one UK delegate said. “The world needs this treaty.”

Until the next session is convened, the future of the Global Plastics Treaty remains uncertain—but the urgency to act has never been clearer.