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Global Plastics Treaty
Global plastic treaty talks to resume in Geneva amid concerns over rising pollution
Global Plastics Treaty : Starting Tuesday, representatives from over 190 countries will convene in Geneva, Switzerland (August 5–14, 2025) for the second instalment of the fifth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) under the United Nations.
What is the Global Plastics Treaty?
- Definition: The Global Plastics Treaty is an international, legally binding agreement aimed at addressing plastic pollution throughout its entire life cycle, from production to waste disposal and recycling.
- Objective: To create a framework to eliminate plastic pollution, particularly in the marine environment, by addressing production, harmful chemicals, and problematic plastic products.
- Significance: If adopted, it will be the most significant environmental treaty since the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, according to the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolution adopted in Nairobi in 2022.
- Current Status: The draft treaty, discussed in Busan, South Korea (December 2024), contains 370 brackets, indicating unresolved issues and disagreements among countries.
Why is the Global Plastics Treaty necessary, and what are the consequences of inaction?
- Environmental Impact: Plastic pollution has infiltrated every corner of the planet, from the Mariana Trench (the deepest point in the ocean) to Mount Everest (the highest peak).
- Production Statistics: 460 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually (2019 data, OECD). Only 9% of plastic waste is recycled globally; the remaining 91% leaks into the environment, polluting land, rivers, and oceans. Without intervention, plastic waste is projected to triple by 2060 (UNEP report).
- Health and Economic Impacts: A Lancet report (2025) highlights that plastics cause diseases and deaths from infancy to old age, leading to health-related economic losses exceeding $1.5 trillion annually.
- Environmental Concerns: Plastics, primarily derived from fossil fuels, contribute significantly to global warming. Marine ecosystems are severely impacted by plastic pollution, necessitating urgent global action.
- Global Call to Action: Civil society and environmental campaigners view the treaty as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to curb plastic pollution through significant production cuts.
How will the treaty address plastic pollution, and what are the challenges?
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Life Cycle Approach
The treaty aims to tackle plastic pollution at every stage: production, use, disposal, and recycling. Focus areas include:
- Capping production of primary polymers.
- Eliminating harmful chemicals used in plastic production.
- Phasing out problematic plastic products.
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Key Proposals
During the intersessional period, some countries streamlined the chair’s draft text, proposing measures on:
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Challenges
- The Busan meeting (December 2024) saw disagreements over production caps, chemical elimination, and product phase-outs, leading to a collapse in talks. The 370 brackets in the draft text indicate unresolved issues, requiring intensive negotiations to reach a consensus.
- India’s Strategy: India is open to discussions but maintains reservations on production cuts and trade barriers, prioritising pollution reduction over restrictive measures. Indian negotiators emphasise a consensus-driven approach to finalise the treaty.
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The Source’s Authority and Ownership of the Article is Claimed By THE STUDY IAS BY MANIKANT SINGH
