Intensive Consultations for International Treaty on Plastic Waste

Consultations are underway in Geneva to finalize an international agreement to address the increasing amount of plastic waste and its impact on human health, marine life, and the economy.

If no agreement is reached, plastic waste is projected to triple by 2060, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The current negotiations follow a 2022 decision to develop a legally binding instrument within three years to end the plastic pollution crisis.

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen emphasized the need for a systemic transformation towards a circular economy.

The agreement aims to encompass the entire life cycle of plastics, from design to disposal.

Delegations from 179 countries are examining the text in Geneva, along with more than 1,900 participants from 618 organizations.

The Lancet medical journal warned that the materials used in plastics cause diseases at every stage of the plastic life cycle.

Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), stated that humanity is projected to consume over 500 million tons of plastic in 2024.

So far, five negotiating sessions have been held to conclude the Treaty against plastic pollution.

Source: UN

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Last Update: August 09, 2025 - 11:27