Global plastic pollution treaty: Final saloon opportunity

Geneva Disarray: The Plastic Pact’s Looming Failure

Less Than 24 Hours to a Decision — and Negotiators Are in Chaos

With a single day left, U.N. negotiators were scrambling to secure a global accord on plastic pollution that had stalled for three years. Countries clamoring for bold action were at odds with a group of oil‑producing states, creating a razor‑thin chance of finding common ground before the deadline on Friday.

Draft Text Goes to the Other Side of the Table

• The chair, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, produced a draft that captured a handful of convergence points. It was meant to be a foundation for a treaty.
• But the text infuriated virtually every corner of the table. Nations ripped it apart, one after another shredding it in fits of anger.
• Countries labeled “ambitious” found it shorn of bold action: no curbing of production, no phasing out of toxic ingredients. All they got was a waste‑management agreement.
• The Like‑Mind‑ed Group, led by Gulf states, crossed too many red lines. They didn’t see a narrow scope for what they might sign up for.

Historical Context: Microplastics Everywhere

Microplastics have been found on the highest mountain peaks, in the deepest ocean trench, and scattered throughout almost every part of the human body. The problem is so ubiquitous that a fifth and supposedly final round of talks in South Korea broke up without agreement — meaning the Geneva talks were already stretching the limits.

Key Voices on the Debate

• Colombia and Chile declared the draft unacceptable outright.
• Panama accused the majority of countries of “stomping, spat on, and burned” the red lines.
• Kenya described the text as “significantly diluted”, losing its very objective and having no “demonstrable value … to end plastic pollution.”
• France’s Ecological Transition Minister Agnes Pannier‑Runacher told reporters that the draft needed rebalancing, and it was still possible to write a 10‑page text that takes into account all the main points.

NGOs Call the Remaining Hours “Critical”

Environmental NGOs urging ministers to “grasp the moment” emphasized the urgency:

• World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) warned that the remaining hours would be “critical in turning this around.” They stressed that a watered‑down, compromised text would have “immense” implications for people and nature worldwide, and failure on Thursday would mean “more damage, more harm, more suffering.”
• Greenpeace delegation chief Graham Forbes called on ministers to “uphold the ambition they have promised” and address “the root cause: the relentless expansion of plastic production.”
• Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) chief David Azoulay called the draft a “mockery.” He said it will be very difficult to “come back from this.”

Conclusion: A Pivotal Moment

The Geneva negotiation is a critical juncture: it’s not about closing a treaty at any cost, but about closing a wound that remains open in our rivers and oceans. Ministers now face the challenge of making the debate meaningful, not merely ceremonial, and pushing forward a text that truly addresses the root of plastic pollution.