Geneva summit offers new hope for global treaty against plastic pollution

Saturday 02 August 2025 - 18:00

From oceans to human bodies, plastic has invaded the entire planet. But a turning point may be near, as representatives from nearly 180 countries gather from July 30 to August 14 in Geneva for crucial UN-led negotiations to develop the first global treaty to eliminate plastic pollution.

This special session, named CIN5-2, was convened after talks failed last December in Busan, South Korea, where key oil-producing nations blocked progress. The new round is seen as a critical chance to overcome geopolitical tensions and deliver a binding agreement.

The stakes are high. According to the OECD, global plastic use could triple by 2060 if no action is taken. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) predicts a 50% surge in plastic waste pollution by 2040. Currently, 460 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually—half of it single-use—and less than 10% is recycled. Tiny plastic particles are now found even in human organs and bloodstream.

Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP, remains cautiously optimistic: “It is possible to leave Geneva with a treaty.” A draft containing over 300 points of disagreement has been circulated by Ecuadorian diplomat Luis Vayas Valdivieso, who chairs the negotiations.

One of the main sticking points is whether the treaty should include a cap on new plastic production. Oil-rich nations like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Russia firmly oppose such measures. Another contentious issue involves banning harmful chemicals such as PFAS, endocrine disruptors, and bisphenols.

Bjorn Beeler of IPEN (a global network of NGOs) warns that the final agreement might be “a skeleton treaty—without funding, guts, or soul.” Developing countries are deeply concerned: some depend economically on plastic production, while others suffer from its devastating environmental effects.

In June, 96 countries—including EU members, Mexico, Senegal, and small island nations—demanded an ambitious treaty with concrete reduction targets. Greenpeace and other groups urge governments to resist industry lobbying and prioritize public health over polluter profits.

The Geneva talks could be a defining moment for global environmental diplomacy—or another missed opportunity.