Global Plastic Pollution Treaty Talks Stuck in Stalemate
Negotiations for a global treaty on plastic pollution are facing significant challenges, with oil-producing nations and other key players blocking progress. According to sources involved in the talks, the discussions have devolved into a “dialogue of the deaf,” where meaningful agreement seems increasingly out of reach.
The ten-day negotiation session, which began with optimism from moderators, aimed to finalize an international, legally-binding instrument to address the growing crisis of plastic waste and microplastics. However, by Thursday, the mood had shifted as countries took firm stances on their positions. A diplomatic source from a coalition of nations pushing for a strong treaty noted that there was little progress and very few common ground areas.
The “Like-Minded Countries” group, primarily composed of oil-producing states, is resisting any constraints on plastic production. These nations argue that the focus should be on managing waste rather than limiting the production of plastics. This stance has led to a deepening divide among the 184 participating countries at the United Nations in Geneva.
Technically, these talks are a continuation of the fifth round of negotiations, which ended in failure in Busan, South Korea, in December. Instead of moving toward compromise, the positions of the countries have solidified, according to an observer from a non-governmental organization who attended several discussion groups. The technical articles of the treaty are being debated in detail by negotiators, but no consensus is emerging.
Positions Are Crystallizing
Written documents submitted to the UN negotiations website confirm that countries such as Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia are rejecting binding measures on reducing plastic production. These nations want the treaty to focus only on downstream issues like waste collection, sorting, and recycling. However, the initial resolution that established the negotiations envisioned a comprehensive approach covering the entire life cycle of plastic.
“This is a stand-off,” said the diplomatic source, adding that some countries are prepared to see no treaty at all. “If the text is only about helping developing countries manage their waste better, we don’t need an international treaty for that.”
Chemicals List Controversy
Another point of contention is Article 3 of the draft text, which aims to create a list of potentially hazardous chemical substances. The chemical industry has expressed opposition to this, with some countries arguing against the necessity of such a list. Some nations prefer allowing each country to create its own list of hazardous products, which can already be done without an international treaty.
The same source also pointed out China’s lack of openness on this issue. As the world's largest plastics producer, China accounts for 34% of the four most widely used polymers: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS). The state-owned company Sinopec is the leading producer of plastics globally.
Protests and Concerns Over Industry Influence
Greenpeace staged a protest at the entrance of the UN Palais des Nations, highlighting concerns over the influence of fossil fuel and petrochemical companies in the negotiations. The organization’s delegation chief, Graham Forbes, criticized the increasing presence of industry lobbyists, stating that they are “polluting the negotiations from the inside.” He called on the UN to take action against their involvement.
The ongoing stalemate in the talks reflects the deep-seated disagreements between different groups of nations, making it increasingly difficult to reach a consensus on a comprehensive and effective global treaty to combat plastic pollution.