From 5 to 14 August 2025, negotiators from around the world will reconvene at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, for the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2).
The goal remains clear: to develop a legally binding global treaty to curb plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
This resumed session follows the deadlock in Busan, where oil-producing countries successfully stalled progress, leaving ambitious nations frustrated but determined to push forward. The meeting in Geneva will be a pivotal moment—an opportunity to break through political roadblocks, finalize key elements of the treaty, and set the stage for a strong, enforceable agreement before the 2025 deadline.
The INC-5.2 session will be preceded by regional consultations on 4 August 2025, allowing negotiators to refine their positions before heading into what is expected to be intense discussions. With time running out and the plastic crisis escalating, the pressure is on for countries to move beyond delays and deliver the treaty the world desperately needs.
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee
Securing a meaningful agreement will mean aligning with the 2022 UNEA Resolution 5/14 mandate.
During INC-5, the Chair attempted to break the deadlock in negotiations by issuing two subsequent iterations of Non-Papers, one issued on 29 November 2024 (the Non-Paper containing the draft of the text of the Chair of the Committee) and another issued on 1 December 2024, the Chair’s Text. Ultimately the INC-5 session finished without a textual agreement and was adjourned to INC-5.2.
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Press folder INC 5 – pictures from the event
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Official statement on behalf of GRID-Arendal:
There was disappointment and frustration as the fifth negotiation meeting in Busan ended without a treaty. Many countries, organizations, and researchers argue that international negotiations are futile and incapable of delivering the results we need. This is the simple conclusion after the failure in Busan, where ambitious countries stood firm on their demands in the face of oil-producing nations that consistently did everything they could to stall the negotiations.
An Extremely Ambitious Process
Developing a new global plastic treaty is a challenging process in itself. On top of that, never before has only two years been allocated to reach an agreement on an international environmental treaty. Additionally, the negotiations have been marked by a lack of trust among the parties. This has manifested in disagreements over fundamental elements, such as the definition of what plastic actually is. While this may seem trivial, such definitions are crucial, as they set the premise for what the treaty will cover.
One of the biggest challenges in the process has been the requirement for consensus. The ambition to get all countries on board with a treaty is noble but demanding. It is easy to criticize the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) for being naive, for being in the pocket of one side or the other, or for being overly bureaucratic. However, there is no doubt that UNEP has been weakened and influenced by a challenging global political landscape and that the environmental sphere has become a new battleground.
Disagreements and Blockades
During the meeting in Busan, doors were closed, and negotiations shifted to informal talks, a move that was heavily criticized by civil society. It was also a necessary step in a deadlocked situation where the INC secretariat had exhausted their options in the negotiations. It was far from an ideal process, and the criticism is justified, but Luis Vayas Valdivieso, the ambitious chair of the negotiations, was largely backed into a corner, making this a necessary outcome.
The Busan meeting ended without an agreement. Oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran continue to significantly delay the process, often using arguments that mask economic and industrial interests. One of the most discouraging moments was when Saudi Arabia’s delegate spent over 13 minutes explaining why every paragraph should remain in brackets – a tactic to prevent progress.
The outcome can rightly be called a failure, but it is also a reflection of the fact that the most ambitious countries refused to accept a weak treaty. A weak treaty, like the Paris Agreement, may have raised public awareness of the climate crisis, but the world’s countries are still failing to meet the ambitions set. Not even Norway, whose government recently announced that its greenhouse gas reduction targets will not be met by 2030.
Hope and Ambition
When looking at the plastic negotiations and what has unfolded over the past five negotiation meetings, it is important not to overlook the bright spots. Rwanda, led by Juliet Kabera, led an inspiring moment during the closing plenary, urging ambitious delegates to stand up. Over 85 countries backed Rwanda’s Stand Up for Ambition statement, calling for concrete measures to reduce plastic production, eliminate harmful plastic products, and secure effective financing. While INC-5 did not result in a treaty, the process is far from a failure. Many countries support ambitious measures, and there is growing determination to break through the blockades.
The High Ambition Coalition, an alliance of countries led by Norway and Rwanda advocating for strong regulations, has demonstrated that there is broad support for a comprehensive and binding treaty. To succeed, countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, India, and China must be won over. While these countries have not signed the Stand Up for Ambition statement, they have also not shown the same strong resistance as Saudi Arabia. This gives reason for cautious optimism.
Of course, the U.S. elections and the new president raise concerns about the future of the process, but historically, the country has rarely been a strong supporter of binding international environmental agreements. If a treaty is pursued without requiring full consensus but instead based on majority decisions, there is hope for a strong treaty that can pave the way out of plastic pollution—much like the Montreal Protocol did for the ozone layer.
GRID-Arendal will continue to support the process, and over the next month, we will share news, content, and resources for journalists covering the meeting.
Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need assistance press@grida.no
Useful links for journalists:
In cooperation with the Pulitzer Center, GRID-Arendal has made a toolkit for journalists: How To Investigate Plastic in the Ocean (https://pulitzercenter.org/how-investigate-plastic-ocean)
The Pulitzer Center, IMS (International Media Support) and GRID-Arendal also hosted a webinar: https://pulitzercenter.org/event/how-investigate-plastic-ocean
Webinar: A Journalist’s Guide to Science and Solutions in the Global Plastic Crisis:
https://www.grida.no/resources/16490
Webinar: Reporting on the Final Steps Toward a Global Plastic Treaty at INC-5:
