Efforts to finalize a historic global plastic pollution treaty are now at risk, with just days remaining before negotiations conclude in Geneva, Switzerland. Civil society groups have expressed deep concerns that the talks, years in the making, are on the verge of collapse due to a stalled process.
Environmental advocates warn that the current plastic pollution treaty negotiations are hindered by persistent delays and lack of decisive action. Despite available options to break the deadlock, no country has called for a vote, leaving the talks trapped in consensus and at risk of failure.
Deadlock in Plastic Pollution Treaty Talks
During a crucial “stocktake” plenary at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-5.2), negotiators missed a vital opportunity to advance a legally binding agreement. Observers noted that the chair opted for ineffective procedural methods and even cut the meeting short, preventing some Member States from voicing their positions.
“It’s unbelievable we’re still stuck with this bloated text full of brackets at this stage of the negotiations,” said Salisa Traipipitsiriwat of the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) Thailand. She added, “Consensus is clearly holding us back from reaching an agreement, yet still, countries did not have the courage to take action. Yes, voting is politically sensitive, but we need to put it on the table if we are to secure a strong treaty. It’s now or never.”
Merrisa Naidoo of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) Africa emphasized, “A stronger procedural action to unlock voting could have advanced text negotiations from the stalemate that continues to deadlock urgent action to address the plastics crisis. We are not asking for charity, we are demanding courage.”
Fossil Fuel Interests and Treaty Challenges
Advocates argue that the inability to break the deadlock benefits fossil fuel and petrochemical industries that have long resisted binding measures favored by the majority of nations. Thais Carvajal of Zero Waste Alliance Ecuador stated, “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.”
She added, “A treaty that fails to deliver impact is far more dangerous than one that fails to please everyone.” The persistent consensus rule allows a small group of oil-producing countries to block progress, undermining the treaty’s potential.
Global Support Amid Consensus Challenges
More than 100 countries support a binding global phasedown of plastic production, with many advocating for phasing out harmful products and chemicals. However, environmental groups stress that these majorities mean little if consensus continues to stall negotiations.
In the Philippines, the urgency of addressing plastic pollution has been highlighted by recent severe flooding in Metro Manila, where over 600 tons of garbage were collected in just one week. Greenpeace Philippines and over 80 local organizations have urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which leads the country’s delegation in Geneva, to push for ambitious legally binding targets to reduce plastic production at its source.
“We can’t keep cleaning up while turning a blind eye on plastic production,” said Marian Ledesma, Zero Waste Campaigner at Greenpeace Philippines. “Floods are the symptom. The plastic crisis is part of the disease. It’s time for the DENR to stop playing it safe and push for a Plastics Treaty that cuts production at the source.”
Health advocates, waste workers, and environmental groups have also urged the Philippine delegation to reject blanket exemptions for sectors reliant on plastics, warning these would delay the shift to safer and sustainable alternatives.
The Philippines joined 94 other nations in signing the “Nice Call for an Ambitious Treaty on Plastic Pollution” last June. This declaration seeks global targets to reduce primary plastic production, phase out the most problematic products and chemicals, and improve product design to minimize environmental impact. French officials described this as a “major diplomatic milestone” toward ending plastic pollution.
Nevertheless, campaigners caution that these pledges will only be meaningful if the Philippines and other signatories maintain strong positions during the final negotiation phase.
Multilateralism and the Future of Plastic Pollution Treaty
The recent stalemate follows warnings from several environmental groups urging governments to “fix the process” and “keep your promise” to deliver an ambitious treaty. After five negotiation rounds over two years, patience is wearing thin.
“If we continue to stall in consensus, we trade progress for paralysis,” said Merrisa Naidoo. Rafael Eudes of Aliança Resíduo Zero Brasil added, “A strong treaty with majority support beats a weak treaty that caters only to the few.”
For many advocates, the plastics treaty is more than an environmental agreement—it is a test of the international community’s ability to act decisively on urgent global challenges.
“Not delivering on this promise to end plastic pollution will continue to affect vulnerable communities across the world,” said Olivia Mah Tamon of FEDEV in Cameroon, referencing the 2022 UN resolution that launched the treaty process.
With only a week left in the talks, civil society groups are calling on the so-called “High Ambition Coalition” of countries to translate their commitments into concrete action.
As Naidoo concluded, “Now is the time to seize the momentum and show the world that multilateralism can still solve global problems.”
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