Geneva: A 10-day intense negotiation effort to secure an international legally binding treaty on plastic pollution concluded on Friday in Geneva, Switzerland, without reaching an agreement on a final text.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) gathered over 2,600 participants, including 1,400 delegates from 183 countries. The discussions also involved nearly 1,000 observers from more than 400 organizations and around 100 ministers, vice ministers, and high-level representatives.
Despite the lack of consensus, member states agreed to resume talks at a date yet to be announced. This decision signals a shared determination to continue the process, as stated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The goal of INC-5.2 was to agree on the instrument’s text and highlight unresolved issues requiring further preparatory work ahead of a diplomatic conference.
The session followed a structured approach, beginning with an opening plenary, transitioning into four contact groups addressing key areas, followed by a stock-taking plenary, informal consultations, and ending with a closing plenary on Friday. In his remarks, Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP, emphasized that negotiations would resume later despite the setbacks. Andersen highlighted the complexities faced during the discussions, stressing the importance of continuing the fight against plastic pollution.
The Geneva session aimed to finalize the treaty text and identify unresolved issues ahead of a planned diplomatic conference. Using a Chair’s Text from INC-5.1 in Busan as the starting point, negotiators focused on topics such as plastic design, chemicals of concern, production caps, finance, and compliance. Two new draft proposals were introduced, but consensus remained elusive.
INC Chair Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso acknowledged the disappointment of not reaching the intended goal but urged for renewed energy and commitment. Valdivieso expressed optimism about future international cooperation to protect the environment and public health.
The process to develop a global plastics treaty began in March 2022 when the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) adopted a landmark resolution to create a legally binding instrument to combat plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. Since then, negotiations have taken place in various locations, including Punta del Este, Paris, Nairobi, Ottawa, and Busan.
Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary of the INC Secretariat, provided an outline of the way forward, emphasizing continued efforts to achieve a global agreement on plastic pollution.