Nations Gather in Geneva to Confront Global Plastic Pollution Crisis

Geneva (AP) — Delegates from across the world have gathered in Geneva this week for the sixth and potentially final round of negotiations to establish a legally binding treaty aimed at ending global plastic pollution. The 10-day session, running until August 14, is being seen as the last major opportunity to confront a crisis that affects every ecosystem and community worldwide.

The core debate remains whether the treaty should include mandatory cuts in plastic production. While over 100 nations and major companies like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Walmart, and L’Oréal support limits on plastic manufacturing alongside waste management and recycling efforts, oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia strongly oppose such restrictions, arguing that redesign and reuse can suffice.

Luis Vayas Valdivieso, Ecuador’s ambassador to the UK and chair of the negotiating committee, emphasized the urgency: “We are facing a global crisis. Plastic pollution is damaging ecosystems, harming human health, and threatening biodiversity, harming human health and unfairly impacting the most vulnerable. The urgency is real.”

Annually, between 19 and 23 million tons of plastic enter aquatic ecosystems, with projections showing a 50% increase by 2040 without decisive action. While some countries seek to include a voting mechanism to avoid stalemates, others — including India, Iran, and Kuwait — insist on maintaining consensus.

Environmental groups like Greenpeace are pushing for a 75% reduction in plastic production by 2040, warning that recycling alone cannot solve the crisis. Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to oppose production caps and has proposed removing references to addressing the full life cycle of plastic in the treaty, aligning with industry positions.

Delegates include scientists, industry leaders, indigenous representatives, and ministers from over 80 countries, making this the most extensive session so far.