As governments gathered in Geneva for the latest round of global plastics treaty negotiations, the call from civil society rang loud and clear: the world cannot afford another weak deal.
From Indigenous leaders and youth activists to waste pickers and healthcare workers, communities on the frontlines of the plastics crisis demanded a treaty rooted in justice, equity, and bold action to cut plastic production at its source.
Keep reading to learn more about how civil society raised the call for commitment – and change – at INC5.2.
Observers set the scene
The INC began informally on Monday 4th August, where a Multistakeholder Forum opened in Geneva’s famous Palais des Nations.
This session was held in the plenary hall itself, generating an early glimmer of hope that civil society’s objections about the exclusion experienced at INC5.1 may have been heeded.
We heard from experts through panels on science and research, the informal sector, and the rights and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples. It was a unified message: we have all the evidence we need to agree an ambitious and effective treaty with health and environmental equity at its core. But to do so, all stakeholders and rightsholders – both formal and ‘informal’ – must be included in the negotiation process.
One particularly potent take-away came from a delegate from the Women’s Major Group on Plastic Pollution, who reminded us: “plastic is not just a technical issue; when we talk about plastic pollution, we talk about justice.”
Later, during an observers’ meeting with the Secretariat, Chair Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso emphasised the key role of observers as “not outsiders, but a vital part of the process.”
Negotiations start on shaky ground
However, Tuesday 5th saw the official start to negotiations commence on uncertain terrain. The opening plenary set the tone for the high expectations (and frustrations) of the weeks to come.
Opening the session, the INC Chair reminded delegates: “We are not just reviewing a document; we are setting the credentials of a document that will set the trajectory for future generations.”
Unfortunately, this optimism was somewhat short-lived. The Like-Minded Group of countries swiftly swooped in with interventions questioning the scope and core articles of the treaty – again. Soon, the session had dissolved into procedural wrangling.
Observers were given space to speak, however, and a representative of the newly launched Youth Plastic Action Network reminded governments of the urgency of the moment: “A weak treaty will not protect any country from the impacts of inaction… you may not see the effects, but we will.”
Civil society calls for commitment
From these very first days of the negotiations, civil society made it clear that the world was not willing to compromise on a strong, just and effective treaty.
On August 4th, we joined a powerful mobilisation led by the Gallifrey Foundation and Greenpeace, held at the Place de Nations, near Benjamin Von Wong’s powerful art installation, The Thinker’s Burden.
Demonstrators wearing red, orange and yellow lifted a placards that together formed a huge speech bubble reading: “Cut plastic production. Don’t fuel our destruction. Strong treaty now!” Despite the 30-degree heat, the mobilisation grew large crowds, showing an encouraging level of public interest in the negotiations occurring behind the famous flag promenade.
As the negotiations went on, the creative actions continued. Early in the week, Gallifrey Foundation and others gained attention for handing out bars of soap to negotiators marked “no dirty tricks, vote for a clean Plastics Treaty” to negotiators.
However, as the talks continued on with limited progress to be seen, things took a more sombre tone. In the final days of negotiations, civil society groups gathered outside plenary halls as negotiators arrived for sessions, silently holding signs urging governments to fix the process in order to secure a strong treaty before the week was out.
Taking stock
As the week drew to a close with little movement, frustration was at a high. The stocktake plenary on Saturday 9th August revealed that, out of more than 30 articles, only two had been sent to the legal drafting group. Several remained untouched. It was becoming increasingly clear that negotiations were heading towards the same outcome as INC5.1 in Busan.
Several countries urged that negotiations must see a swift step-change in order to succeed, with Colombia reminding the plenary: “The future of multilateralism in environmental terms is in our hands.”
Frontline communities take the floor
Whilst negotiations lagged, campaigners drove a continual charge of urgency, with frontline communities leading the way.
A press conference hosted by Break Free From Plastic saw panellists from across fenceline communities, Indigenous Nations and wastepickers highlight health impacts, exploitation and the need for not only meaningful inclusion, but justice.
Speaking on behalf of the International Alliance of Waste Pickers, Soledad Mella declared: “We have something no millionaire has – the human resource. We were the last frontier for generations, reducing plastic pollution without payment for the material. If industry is participating, they need – for ethical reasons, humans rights and social rights reasons – to take responsibility.”
On August 9th, a press conference by the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Plastics marked International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Speakers from across various Indigenous groups reflected on the significance of the day and locale. 100 years ago, Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga) chief Deskaheh arrived at the Palais des Nations demanding Indigenous People have a seat at the table in international negotiations.
The conference saw speakers raise a unified call for a treaty grounded in the rights of Indigenous people, with full and effective participation and partnership – not just consultation.
Samantha Jack of the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus shared a memorable reminder that “our land and waterways are not a commodity, they are our relatives.” She continued, “The plastics crisis is damaging these sacred relationships… This treaty cannot be aspiration. We urge any leader to take bold action now.”
Progress put on hold
In the final days of negotiation, after our delegation had left Geneva, the talks slowed further, continuing mostly behind closed doors. The Chair’s new draft text was widely rejected, and the final plenary was repeatedly delayed, eventually lasting just 43 seconds before being postponed overnight.
At 5:30am on Friday 15th August, delegates reconvened one final time. With no agreement reached, negotiations closed without a clear way forward. Without, even, a sign of when talks would reconvene.
Capturing the mood of many in the room, Grenada reflected: “Every day we fail to act decisively is a day this crisis escalates, leading to irreversible damage to our ecosystems, and a greater burden on future generations. The urgency of this crisis demands a treaty with the strength to match the scale of this problem.”
Whilst everyone from the INC Chair to UN Secretary General António Guterres lamented the outcome from Geneva, there has still been no indication on when – and how – talks will resume.
What is certain, though, is that we can’t continue on in the same way. Whether countries decide to initiate voting, consider alternative avenues or simply double down on political engagement until another INC, it’s time to answer the world’s call: strong treaty, now.
Despite our shared frustration at the outcome from Geneva, we were encouraged and inspired to see the ever-growing resolve among civil society. The clear demands of observer organisations and frontline countries like SIDS helped us avoid the ultimate failure: a weak treaty incapable of ending plastic pollution or securing a just, healthy future.
Whilst these collective demands remain to be fulfilled, the solidarity we saw makes it clear: a growing number of eyes are on this treaty, and countries can no longer afford to look away.
