UN Plastic Pollution Talks in Geneva Extended, End Without Breakthrough

Geneva: The fifth round of negotiations on a global agreement to tackle plastic pollution in Geneva has once again ended in deadlock. Despite being extended until Friday, the meeting failed to accommodate or reach consensus among the 183 participating countries on solutions to the plastic waste crisis.

The lack of consensus left many parties disappointed. However, after almost 11 days of discussions, it is believed that countries will continue talks in the third segment of the fifth negotiating session, which may be held at a later date.

“This has been a hard-fought 10 days against the backdrop of geopolitical complexities, economic challenges, and multilateral strains. However, one thing remains clear: despite these complexities, all countries clearly want to remain at the table," said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

“While we did not land the treaty text we hoped for, we at UNEP will continue the work against plastic pollution – pollution that is in our groundwater, in our soil, in our rivers, in our oceans and yes, in our bodies,” she said, in UNEP written statement on Sunday, August 17, 2025.  

The Chair’s text, previously discussed in Busan in 2024, was redrafted at this fifth negotiating session (INC 5.2). However, the new draft was also criticized by many. It fell short of expectations that it would guide negotiations toward a strong and ambitious treaty.

Among the problematic points were the absence of guarantees to protect human health and to put an end to plastic pollution.

“Primary plastic production and plastic chemicals have already exceeded the planet’s carrying capacity, affecting the reproductive health of both women and men. This latest draft is still not strong enough to protect public health, environmental sustainability, and the future of humanity,” said Yuyun Ismawati, Senior Advisor at Nexus3 Foundation and member of the Alliance for Zero Waste Indonesia (AZWI), on Friday.

“We hope delegates will not simply accept the current draft but remain committed to reducing plastic pollution for the future of our children and generations to come,” she said.

Stalemate in Geneva

Disagreements among countries also remain widespread. AZWI noted weaknesses in the text, including the absence of provisions on reducing plastic production, the lack of recognition of the link between plastics and the climate crisis, and the omission of the polluter-pays principle.

Ana Rocha, Global Plastics Policy Director at the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), argued that the draft text in fact undermines the aspirations of more than 100 countries seeking stronger plastic waste management in the future.

“This new text is sending a clear message to the world: we do not care about your health. We do not care about the science. We do not care about human rights. We do not care about your future. We only care about consensus. It ignores the will of the vast majority of Member States and caters to the wishlist of the petro-states and the fossil fuel industry," she said in a statement on Wednesday.

No date has yet been set for the third segment of the fifth negotiating session. Still, the stalemate in Geneva further prolongs the already three-year process of reaching a global solution to the plastic waste crisis.

Greenpeace argued that the agreement could, in fact, have been concluded swiftly, but was blocked by a major obstacle: plastic-producing countries themselves.

“It is clear that the progress needs fixing. If over 100 countries want an ambitious treaty that addresses the entire lifecycle of plastics, they should be able to get the job done. Instead, the talks were invaded by fossil fuel and petrochemical lobbyists, who had only one goal: block any attempt at advancing an ambitious treaty. How is it that the ones profiting from this crisis are allowed a front-row seat in solving it?” Greenpeace said in a statement on Saturday.