The effort to hammer out the world’s first binding treaty on plastic pollution ended in deadlock in Geneva this week, with negotiators leaving without a deal after nearly two weeks of tense discussions.

Talks Break Down Despite Overtime Negotiations

The negotiations — the sixth round of talks under the UN’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) — dragged into the early hours, but the final draft text fell far short of what many countries had hoped for. Delegates seeking tougher restrictions on plastics production said the document did not meet the urgency of the crisis.

Ecuador’s Luis Vayas Valdivieso, who chaired the talks, adjourned the session with a vague promise to reconvene at a later date. His announcement drew only muted applause from delegates, many visibly frustrated after 10 days of inconclusive debate.

Anger From Pro-Treaty States

French ecology minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher did not hide her frustration, telling delegates she was “enraged” that despite progress in discussions, “no tangible results have been obtained.” Colombia’s representative, Haendel Rodriguez, went further, accusing a “small number of states” of blocking any agreement.

The fault lines in Geneva were familiar. The European Union, several African nations, and small island states pushed for a cap on virgin plastic production — a measure seen as essential to reducing the flood of new plastic entering the global economy. On the other side were petrochemical producers and oil-rich nations, backed by the United States, who resisted restrictions that could hit their industries.

U.S. Silent, Others Call Process “Broken”

The U.S. delegation, led by State Department official John Thompson, declined to comment publicly after the talks ended. But privately, frustration mounted among negotiators who accused Washington and oil-producing nations of stalling progress.

Some countries still voiced hope for future negotiations. The UK and UN Environment Programme urged the process to continue, while others were more blunt. “It is very clear that the current process will not work,” South Africa’s delegate said.

What’s at Stake

Plastic production — driven largely by fossil fuels — has more than doubled in the past two decades and is projected to keep rising. Scientists warn that without intervention, plastic waste will triple by 2060, polluting oceans, harming wildlife, and adding to climate pressures.

The Geneva breakdown mirrored last year’s failed session in South Korea, raising doubts about whether a treaty can be reached before the UN’s target date of 2025. Key unresolved issues include:

• Production limits on new plastics.
• Regulation of toxic additives used in plastic manufacturing.
• Financial support for developing countries tasked with implementing changes.

Civil Society Reaction: “No Treaty Is Better Than a Bad Treaty”

Environmental groups said they were disappointed but relieved that a watered-down agreement had not been forced through. “No treaty is better than a bad treaty,” said Ana Rocha of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), arguing that a weak deal would have locked in ineffective measures.

Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, struck a more optimistic note, insisting the push for a plastics treaty isn’t dead. “We did not get where we want,” she said, “but people want a deal.”

For now, however, the global fight against plastic pollution remains mired in political gridlock, with little clarity on when — or if — a binding agreement will emerge.