Plastic Pollution Treaty Talks Adjourn Without Consensus but Momentum for Global Deal Continues
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13: Climate Action
Institutions: Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change
After 10 days of intense negotiations in Geneva, UN member states failed to reach consensus on a legally binding international treaty to end plastic pollution, reflecting complex geopolitical and economic challenges. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) agreed to resume talks at a future date, with all parties expressing a clear commitment to continue engagement.
The treaty aims to address plastic pollution across environments - including marine, soil, groundwater, and human health - and targets key issues such as plastic design, chemical hazards, production limits, and financing. Over 2,600 participants, including government delegates and representatives from civil society, Indigenous groups, and scientific communities, actively contributed to the discussions.
Despite the setback, UN leaders emphasized renewed commitment to advancing a global accord. The INC process, initiated in 2022 under UN Environment Assembly resolution 5.2, represents a critical step toward uniting global efforts to tackle this pressing environmental threat.
Relevant question for policy stakeholders: What governance frameworks can balance geopolitical complexities with urgent environmental imperatives to accelerate consensus on binding international agreements for plastic pollution reduction?
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https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/08/1165658