Urgent Calls Amid Global Plastics Treaty Talks
With three days left before the conclusion of the crucial global plastics treaty talks in Geneva, civil society groups from Southeast Asia warn that negotiators risk sacrificing public health and the welfare of future generations for a weak agreement. The global plastics treaty talks have reached a critical juncture, where decisions made now will shape the trajectory of plastic pollution control worldwide.
According to local advocates, the sixth round of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) marks a point of no return. Representatives from 178 countries must decide whether to impose meaningful restrictions on plastic production and waste or allow future generations to inherit a planet suffocated by plastic waste and contaminated with microplastics.
The Promise and Challenges of the Global Plastics Treaty Talks
The treaty, mandated by the 2022 UN Environment Assembly resolution, aims to tackle plastic pollution comprehensively, addressing the entire lifecycle of plastics—from production to disposal. However, negotiations remain deadlocked after a crucial stocktake plenary failed to break the consensus gridlock.
“As the negotiations near their final stage, we urge delegates to remember the mandate: to end plastic pollution and protect human health and the environment throughout the full life cycle of plastics,” said Yuyun Ismawati, co-founder of Nexus3 Foundation and member of the Alliance for Zero Waste Indonesia. She emphasized that continuing unsustainable plastic production and consumption is unacceptable. “Limiting plastic production, controlling toxic chemicals, and reducing subsidies for plastic producers are the only ways to meet this goal,” she added.
Southeast Asia’s Push for Ambitious Commitments
Advocates from Southeast Asia highlight that several countries in the region have demonstrated remarkable ambition in the global plastics treaty talks. These nations have submitted proposals to cut plastic production, eliminate toxic chemicals, increase transparency and traceability, and promote reuse, refill, and repair systems.
Yet, community members note that these ambitions still await broader regional support. “We call on the negotiators to be empathetic and to prioritize the long-term interests of the entire region above the narrow interests of the petrochemical and plastics industries,” said Xuan Quach, Country Director of Pacific Environment Vietnam.
Quach urged negotiators not to sacrifice the environment for short-term economic gains. “Think about our future generations, the impact of climate change on vulnerable groups, and the urgent need for sustainable production and consumption,” she stressed.
Industry Influence and the Fight for Stronger Regulations
More than 100 countries back a global limit on plastic production, with over 1,100 scientists endorsing the position. However, sources report that major petrostates and at least 234 industry lobbyists are working to weaken the treaty, focusing it solely on waste management rather than comprehensive plastic control.
Aileen Lucero, national coordinator of the Ecowaste Coalition in the Philippines, called on negotiators to “seize the moment” and protect the talks from corporate interference. “We appeal to all government negotiators to block corporate lobbyists from hijacking the negotiation, uphold human rights, and provide robust financing and compliance mechanisms to ensure effective implementation,” Lucero urged.
Rejecting False Solutions and Highlighting the Cost of Inaction
Advocates warn that plastic pollution cannot be resolved without binding global rules. Developed countries with advanced waste management systems are often the largest exporters of plastic waste to the Global South, perpetuating the problem.
“Southeast Asia stands at a crossroads. If plastic production grows unchecked, we will see more petrochemical facilities poisoning our water and air. More plastic waste will flood our region, and microplastics and chemicals will accumulate in our bodies,” said Punyathorn Jeungsmarn, plastics campaigner and researcher at the Environmental Justice Foundation.
Jeungsmarn emphasized that “the plastics treaty must set a target for reducing plastic production or risk becoming a false solutions treaty.” Civil society groups also criticized the promotion of ineffective solutions that fail to address the harms caused by plastics across their lifecycle.
“Without global controls, managing the inherent, pervasive, and transboundary nature of plastics and chemicals is almost impossible,” said Wong Si Peng, events and projects officer at Malaysia’s C4 Center. “National measures that vary from country to country will undermine plastic circularity. We call on our countries to include binding global standards for an effective plastic treaty.”
High Stakes as Deadline Approaches
The current session in Geneva is set to conclude on August 14, leaving limited time for countries to resolve deep disagreements over the treaty’s scope. Advocacy groups report that many Member States refuse to move away from consensus-based decision-making, allowing a small group of oil-producing nations to stall progress.
This week, Southeast Asian advocates continue to press for stronger commitments, reminding negotiators that their decisions will have lasting impacts on the region’s health, environment, and resilience to climate change.
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