• Can the Plastics Treaty deliver?

“If your bathtub was overflowing, you wouldn’t reach for a mop – you’d first turn off the tap.” This simple analogy, popularised by the documentary ‘The Story of Stuff’, captures what the Global Plastics Treaty set out to do.

But three years into negotiations, is the treaty moving towards addressing the crisis at the root cause or merely mopping around the mess?

The mandate and promise

The negotiations began in 2022 at the end of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA)-5.2, where 175 nations agreed on a mandate to create the first-ever global legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution. An International Negotiating Committee (INC) was then established to draft the treaty to address the entire life cycle of plastics, from extraction to disposal, by the end of 2024.

This signalled a significant step toward meaningful global cooperation, particularly for countries grappling with the harmful impacts of material often touted as convenient, cheap, and versatile. 

Progress and pitfalls

Throughout the negotiations, there have been both promising strides and watered-down compromises. On a positive note, several sessions witnessed record delegations, reflecting an undeniable consensus for a legally binding treaty. The World Wildlife Fund’s calculations indicate that of the nearly 180 states participating in the talks, 135 are advocating for binding global rules.

At the same time, negotiations revealed divides early on. At INC-1 in 2022, countries split between those advocating for voluntary, country-specific action plans and those calling to reduce plastic production and eliminate toxic additives. This rift widened in INC-2 and INC-3 in 2023, where the presence of the petrochemical industries became more apparent.

A key point of contention was the scope of the Zero Draft, the initial treaty text created by the INC Chair. Intended as a foundation for progress, disagreements over revisions stalled momentum. By INC-4, despite increased awareness of plastic’s environmental and health impacts, efforts to tackle upstream production were sidelined. 

Although INC-5 was expected to be the final round of negotiations aimed at locking down a final text, representatives from over 170 countries remained gridlocked, and no agreement was reached.  

The road ahead

Nearly 80% of the nine billion tonnes of plastic produced since the 1950s is now waste, much of it in landfills or the environment. What was initially regarded as a pollution quandary, has now evolved into a global crisis. Yet, the treaty process remains at an impasse.

A treaty that avoids production limits is not a solution; it is only a delay that would burden future generations. With INC-5.2 approaching in August, this may be the world’s last chance to turn off the plastic tap. The question remains: Would those at the negotiating table rise to the occasion or settle for a treaty too weak to make a difference?

(The author is the Advocacy Lead of The Pearl Protectors. The views expressed in this article are her own and do not necessarily reflect those of any affiliated organisation)

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The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication