Global Plastic Pollution Treaty Talks Resume in Geneva

Kathmandu: The resumed fifth session of negotiations on a global treaty to end plastic pollution officially opened today at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The session, known as INC-5.2, brings together representatives from 184 countries and over 600 observer organizations to finalize and approve the text of a legally binding international agreement on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.

Running from August 5 to 14, INC-5.2 builds on the progress made during earlier sessions held in Korea, Canada, Kenya, France, and Uruguay since 2022. The final agreement will be forwarded for adoption at a future diplomatic conference.

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen emphasized the urgency of the crisis, warning that if current trends continue, the world will be overwhelmed by plastic pollution. “Agreeing on a treaty text is the first step to beating plastic pollution for everyone, everywhere,” she said.

INC Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso called the gathering a historic opportunity for global unity. “This is not just a test of diplomacy, it is a test of our collective responsibility,” he said.

Ahead of the opening, UNEP officials and INC leaders engaged with observers, while the Swiss government hosted a multi-stakeholder forum. Katrin Schneeberger, Director of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment, called plastic pollution a global crisis that demands urgent, collective action.

Over 3,700 participants have registered for the session, which aims to lay the foundation for a comprehensive treaty addressing the full life cycle of plastic from production to disposal.