Continued Talks on Plastic Waste: Delay in Final Agreement Lingers On
The anticipated global agreement aimed at curbing plastic pollution and promoting a circular economy was supposed to be finalized during the latest round of negotiations held in Geneva in August 2025. However, the conference adjourned on Friday just before midnight, marking another delay in reaching a legally binding agreement [1][2][4].
The core dispute revolves around the ambition gap between countries. Some advocate for a treaty that applies a comprehensive lifecycle approach to plastics, including strict limits on production, to effectively tackle the mounting plastic pollution problem. Others, often countries with vested interests in fossil fuel and plastic raw material extraction, resist binding production limits and prefer voluntary, non-binding commitments centered on waste management [2][3].
The environmental urgency is palpable. Despite ongoing talks, plastic pollution continues to flow into oceans at an estimated rate of 20 tons per minute. Global plastic waste is projected to reach 1.7 billion metric tons by 2060, with enormous environmental, health, and financial costs [1][2].
Negotiations are further complicated by geopolitical tensions, economic disparities, and multilateral strains, contributing to slow progress despite widespread recognition of the issue’s importance. UN officials express regret over the failure but highlight member states' continuing desire to reach consensus [4].
A coalition of 70 countries, led by the EU, is pushing for a treaty aiming to end plastic pollution by 2040 through ambitious measures [3]. However, countries with oil resources, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Russia, are opposing these efforts to restrict plastic production.
The proposed agreement covers the entire lifecycle of plastic, from production to waste management. It is estimated that there are 152 million tons of plastic waste accumulated in rivers and oceans worldwide. The contract aims to address the destruction of ecosystems and threats to human health caused by plastic waste, including the emergence of microplastics in organs and even the brain [1].
The production of plastics has increased sevenfold from the 1970s to 2020 and could reach almost 600 million tons per year by 2050 without measures. The proposed agreement seeks to promote reusable products, recycling, and a circular economy to curb this trend [1].
The time for the continuation of the session remains uncertain. The negotiations have been ongoing for over three years, attended by over 180 states, making the stalemate a significant setback in the global fight against plastic pollution. Further negotiation rounds are expected to try to bridge these gaps.
- The coalition of 70 countries, led by the EU, is advocating for a medical-conditions approach in the plastic agreement, aiming to end plastic pollution by 2040, with a focus on addressing skin-conditions like microplastics in organs and even the brain.
- As the conference on climate-change and environmental-science continues, the anticipated agreement will cover the entire health-and-wellness aspect of plastic, from production to waste management, addressing potential threats to human health caused by plastic waste.
- Despite ongoing talks and the increasing production of plastics, reaching a legally binding agreement to control plastic pollution is still delayed due to disputes between countries, with some advocating for strict limits on plastic production and others resisting these efforts.
