Hopes for a landmark global treaty to end plastic pollution are fading as negotiators at the resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) in Geneva struggle to make headway. With just days left before the session closes, delegates from 184 nations are urging urgent action to finalise the first-ever legally binding pact targeting plastic pollution across its entire lifecycle.
Calls for a high-ambition treaty have been led by Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), both warning that their ecosystems, economies, and public health face an existential threat from the deluge of plastic waste. According to UN data, global plastic production hit 436 million metric tons in 2023, with 75% of all plastic ever made now classified as waste, much of it polluting oceans and food chains.
The negotiations come amid a stark warning from The Lancet, which described plastics as a &ldquo;grave, growing and under-recognised danger to human and planetary health.&rdquo; Despite the urgency, talks are dragging. Many delegations, including Colombia, the EU, China, and Fiji, have demanded streamlined text, extended informal sessions, and direct mediation by the INC Chair to prevent collapse.
Tensions are heightened by the presence of at least 234 fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists, a record high raising alarm over corporate influence. Indigenous Peoples&rsquo; groups, attending in record numbers, say their voices are being sidelined despite their communities being among the most affected.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has maintained an eruption alert level at 3, urging residents to remain vigilant for volcanic hazards within a three-kilometre radius.
&ldquo;We are not just negotiating text, we are deciding the planet&rsquo;s future,&rdquo; said Luis Vayas Valdivieso, Chair of the INC. &ldquo;This is a test of our collective responsibility to protect the environment, safeguard health, and stand with those most affected.&rdquo;
With the clock ticking, environmental groups warn that failure in Geneva could delay meaningful action against plastic pollution for years, leaving vulnerable nations to bear the brunt.

Plastic Treaty Talks in Geneva Face Stalemate

Plastic treaty talks slow amid rising corporate influence and looming global deadline

Plastic Treaty Talks in Geneva Face Stalemate

Plastic treaty talks slow amid rising corporate influence and looming global deadline

August 10, 2025 | 15:05 IST