Negotiations for a global treaty to curb plastic pollution have reached a critical impasse, with the latest draft text failing to bridge fundamental disagreements among participating nations. The talks, held in Geneva and scheduled to conclude on August 14, 2025, have stalled primarily over the inclusion of measures to limit plastic production.
The draft, presented by the chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, has drawn criticism for its perceived lack of ambition. Key concerns include the absence of provisions to cap plastic production and regulate toxic chemicals integral to many plastic products. Nations advocating for a comprehensive approach, including production limits, are divided from oil-producing countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Iran, who favor a treaty focused on waste management and recycling. Approximately 100 countries support production limits, while powerful oil and gas nations and the plastics industry oppose such measures. Global plastic production has surpassed 400 million tons annually, with projections indicating a potential 70% increase by 2040 without policy interventions. The presence of toxic chemicals, such as phthalates and flame retardants, in plastic products also remains a contentious point due to their known health impacts.
Panama's negotiator stated the draft represented "surrender" rather than ambition. Similarly, the European Union found the proposal unacceptable due to its deficiency in clear, robust, and actionable measures, while Kenya lamented the lack of any global binding obligations. Environmental advocacy groups, including the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), have warned that a failure to reach a meaningful agreement will exacerbate the escalating crisis. WWF advocates for a treaty that includes global bans on harmful plastic items and establishes design requirements for reusability and recyclability, emphasizing that voluntary measures have proven insufficient.