The latest negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty have failed to reach agreement thanks to push back from oil producing states and petrochemical industry balking at the idea of limiting the production of plastic. The 2025 negotiations were to be the critical final phase of the progress of the Global Plastics Treaty. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address plastic pollution and reshape the future landscape of the plastics industry into a more circular economy.
For context, the United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution was set up to develop an international, legally-binding treaty targeting plastics pollution and to eliminate plastic waste by 2040. ORCIE has been closely following the Treaty Process and Sue Wilson, csj participated in the 2024 INC-4 in Ottawa. Before this month’s talks in Geneva, the INC had already met five times, most recently in Busan, South Korea in 2024, and had expected to finalize the treaty in 2025. Instead, frustrated by debate over whether to focus on plastic waste reduction or address the entire plastic lifecycle (from design to the phasing out of harmful chemicals) the negotiations ended with no agreement.
For excellent coverage read this excellent article from National Catholic Reporter: With no treaty to control plastics, concern over harm to people and planet grows.
There is good news! The majority of countries remain committed to securing binding targets to curb plastic pollution, and all countries will remain at the table. Canada played a key role, by championing the rights of Indigenous people and insisting any treaty must include real measures to curb plastic pollution.
What now? It is our collective advocacy that has kept true hope alive for an effective treaty to end plastic pollution. With Environmental Defence you can send a letter to Canada’s Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin, encouraging her to continue to take ambitious action to end plastic pollution. In the meantime, Canada can get to work at home to strengthen its own policies and regulations to eliminate harmful plastic products and chemical additives while supporting alternatives to single-use plastics, including accessible reuse and refill systems.