The urgent quest for a global treaty to combat plastic pollution faces significant setbacks as negotiations stall due to the reluctance of member states to push for decisive action. With growing concerns over the pervasive impact of plastic waste in our water, air, food, and health, delegates convened in Geneva during a critical stocktake plenary—only to witness missed opportunities for progress.
Despite widespread frustration among nations, particularly regarding the tactics employed by oil-producing states, no delegation opted to call for a vote at the plenary session. The failure to act leaves the future of the plastics treaty hanging in the balance, just days ahead of the concluding negotiations.
Salisa Traipipitsiriwat from the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) Thailand expressed disbelief at the continued presence of extensive unresolved issues in the draft text. “It’s unbelievable we’re still stuck with this bloated text full of brackets at this stage of the negotiations. Consensus is clearly holding us back. We need to put voting on the table if we are to secure a strong treaty—it’s now or never,” she stated.
With only a week remaining in negotiations, advocates are calling on the so-called “High Ambition Coalition” to fulfill its commitments to a robust treaty framework. The Chair of the meeting, who was expected to guide discussions toward resolution, faced criticism for reiterating previous ineffective strategies and cutting discussions short, denying many member states the opportunity to contribute.
Thais Carvajal of Zero Waste Alliance Ecuador emphasized the urgency of the situation: “To move forward, it’s time to bring the vote to the table. The clock is ticking, and we cannot remain stuck in a broken process. A treaty that fails to deliver impact is far more dangerous than one that fails to please everyone.”
Support for progressive proposals remains strong, with over 100 countries advocating for a binding global reduction in plastic production, and similar numbers calling for the phaseout of harmful chemicals and a dedicated financial mechanism to support affected nations. The momentum is building for a strong consensus on health-related provisions.
Merrisa Naidoo of GAIA Africa highlighted the need for decisive procedural action. “Stronger measures to facilitate voting could break the current stalemate that hampers vital action against the plastics crisis. We are demanding courage, not charity,” she insisted.
As member nations confront the pressing issue of plastic pollution, the urgency for collaboration and decisive action has never been clearer. The world is watching to see if these nations can transcend the constraints of consensus and pave the way for a meaningful global agreement.
