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Negotiators from around the world will convene in Geneva starting August 5 for another attempt at reaching an agreement on a global treaty to address plastic waste. Since 2019, when the United Nations Environment Assembly pledged to create an international agreement to tackle the growing crisis of plastic pollution that is clogging rivers and harming marine life and human health, three years have passed without success.
The last round of talks ended in December with no consensus. In Geneva, negotiators will try to break the stalemate between countries advocating for a strong treaty that limits global plastic production and a few producing nations that oppose such a cap.
On Thursday, Newsweek hosted a panel discussion “Turning the Tide on Plastic Waste” with experts from academia, industry, and environmental groups who addressed key issues and assessed the likelihood of a meaningful treaty. Douglas McCauley, a marine biologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, highlighted that their research showed how four policies could reduce global plastic waste by 91%.
McCauley’s research demonstrated that policies to improve plastic recycling economics, better fund waste management globally, and limit new plastic production could significantly reduce waste within 25 years. However, a business-as-usual approach risks doubling plastic pollution by mid-century.
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While some countries and U.S. states have taken steps to limit waste, end single-use plastics, and boost low rates of plastic recycling, these efforts are insufficient on their own. Erin Simon from the World Wildlife Fund said that while the last negotiations didn’t reach consensus, they built strong momentum around key policy solutions.
“The debate now is a real political one,” she noted. “How do we make this work for 190 countries?”
Steve Alexander, president of the Association of Plastic Recyclers, sees an opportunity in treaty discussions to think comprehensively about plastic products’ full life cycle. He emphasized the need to level the economic playing field between recycled and new plastics.
One way to promote recycled plastic use is by limiting new plastic production. At a recent ocean conservation conference, representatives from 95 countries issued a statement supporting an ambitious global target to reduce primary plastic production.
However, consensus among all parties will determine the outcome of the U.N. negotiating process. Previous talks faced opposition from a small group led by Saudi Arabia and Russia. The Trump administration’s skeptical view of environmental regulation may impact negotiations but has emphasized economic benefits for boosting recycling.
Alexander said he sees a 60% chance of agreement, but a treaty must have “teeth” to be effective. McCauley, an optimist, believes the world understands the gravity of the plastic crisis and hopes public pressure will lead to a strong outcome. Simon, while encouraged by progress, fears negotiators might settle for a weak result.
“I don’t want to celebrate an empty treaty,” she said. “I want that bite of the apple to be as big as possible.”
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