GENEVA, Aug 15 (Swara) — United Nations Member States ended 10 days of negotiations in Geneva on Friday without agreement on a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution, pledging instead to resume talks at a later date.
“This has been a hard-fought 10 days against the backdrop of geopolitical complexities, economic challenges and multilateral strains,” said UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Inger Andersen. “However, one thing remains clear: despite these complexities, all countries clearly want to remain at the table.”
Delegates from 183 countries, meeting at the resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2), had sought to finalise a treaty text but failed to bridge divisions over issues such as production caps, design standards, chemicals of concern, financing and compliance mechanisms.
More than 2,600 participants attended the session at the Palais des Nations, including 1,400 country delegates and about 1,000 observers from over 400 organisations. Civil society representatives — including Indigenous Peoples, waste pickers, scientists, artists and youth groups — staged protests, art installations and press briefings to press for more decisive action.
“While we did not land the treaty text we hoped for, 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,” Andersen told reporters.
INC Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso urged delegates not to lose momentum. “Failing to reach the goal we set for ourselves may bring sadness, even frustration. Yet it should not lead to discouragement… I have no doubt that the day will come when the international community will unite its will and join hands to protect our environment,” he said.
The treaty process was launched in March 2022 under UN Environment Assembly resolution 5.2. INC Executive Secretary Jyoti Mathur-Filipp said negotiators now face “the obligation” to make progress before the next session.
Source: UN
