City Desk
The second segment of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) for the Global Plastics Treaty adjourned on August 15 without achieving a consensus.
The Environment and Social Development Organization-ESDO expresses solidarity with 'ambitious countries' and various civil society organizations, asserting that “no treaty is preferable to a weak treaty”.
The session, organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), ran for more than ten days with 184 countries participating, seeking to develop a groundbreaking, internationally legally binding instrument to address the global plastic pollution crisis. Unfortunately, the negotiations ended in deadlock, largely due to a draft treaty text introduced on August 13 by INC Chair Ambassador Luis VayasValdivieso of Ecuador.
The text was swiftly rejected by delegates from nearly 200 countries for failing to reflect core demands.
The proposal omitted any mention of “chemicals” or “reuse systems,” excluded measures to cut plastic production, contained weak language on human health, just transition, and human rights, and even removed provisions allowing countries to vote when consensus cannot be reached during the Conference of the Parties, a gap that risks undermining future progress.
“INC-5.2 was meant to be a decisive step toward what should be a historic, legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution across its entire life cycle. Instead, the talks collapsed into disarray as powerful fossil fuel and petrochemical interests, backed by aligned petro-states, worked aggressively to derail progress and weaken the treaty,” said Siddika Sultana, Executive Director of ESDO.
“We are deeply disheartened by the Chair’s text, which shows blatant disregard for human health and the environment. It undermines three years of painstaking negotiations by advancing a proposal that fails to reflect the will of the majority,” she added.
The negotiations were marked by intense debates over definitions of key terms, accountability mechanisms, and commitments to reduce plastic production and usage. While some countries advocated for stringent regulations and ambitious targets, others raised concerns over economic implications and feasibility. According to the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), at least 234 fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists were registered at INC-5.2, outnumbering the combined delegations of the 70 smallest countries, raising fears that industry dominance could hollow out the treaty.
“The issue of plastic pollution is not just an environmental concern; it’s a humanitarian crisis,” stated Dr. Shahriar Hossain, member of the Bangladesh delegation. “As a country that relies heavily on its waterways for livelihoods and sustenance, we are witnessing firsthand the destructive impact of plastic waste. We must reach a consensus to ensure a sustainable future for our generations.”
Bangladesh pushed for the inclusion of specific targets for reducing plastic production, circular economy principles to minimize waste, and greater support for technology transfer and financial assistance for developing nations. The delegation also highlighted successful grassroots strategies from national campaigns on waste management and recycling, offering a model for other developing countries.
The urgency of a strong plastics treaty is particularly evident in Bangladesh, where plastic waste has worsened flooding. During recent monsoon rains, plastic-clogged drains turned rainfall into disaster, killing at least 30 people and affecting millions.
Civil society coalitions, including IPEN, Break Free From Plastic (BFFP), and GAIA, warned that industry influence threatens ambition on production cuts and chemical controls. UNEP’s Executive Director Inger Andersen stressed that “inaction is not a neutral choice,” underscoring the urgent need for cohesive measures to combat the plastic crisis that threatens both marine ecosystems and human health.
