At the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), in February 2022, the world came together and made a commitment: to end plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
Since then, six meetings have been convened and, throughout this process, global momentum has surged. This is no small achievement. We have made progress. But further dialogue, diplomacy and time are needed to complete negotiations and deliver on the promise of resolution 5/14.
Yes, there was real hope that the process could be concluded at the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2). But agreement proved elusive after 10 intense days. Given the high stakes and high hopes, there was an understandable sense of unmet expectations and disappointment.
Now, as we collectively assess what has been achieved since the initial resolution, allow me to highlight three important factors that we would be well advised not to lose sight of:
First, these negotiations unfolded amid geopolitical complexities, economic challenges and multilateral strains. These external factors created and continue to create real difficulties.
Second, ending plastic pollution is a complex and far-reaching task that affects many countries in many diverse ways.
Third, all comparable negotiations for other agreements took much longer than the three and a half years we have been at it.
At the same time, I believe that there were real advances at INC-5.2. Delegations went deeper than ever into all areas of the draft text. We saw constructive proposals, increased clarity on positions and growing convergence on several key elements of a possible treaty.
Yes, divisions remain regarding scope, production, plastic products, finance and decision making. And more work is needed on the balance between globally binding rules and national measures. But we have seen all countries reaffirm their commitment to stay at the table and build on the progress made. Ultimately, no country wants the environmental, economic and health impacts of plastic pollution.
UNEP’s commitment to supporting Member States deliver on UNEA resolution 5/14 remains unwavering. And let me emphasize that we will do this by continually raising the standards of how we serve Member States in this process.
Now, as we look ahead, a path needs to be found to enable Member States to recalibrate the process.
First, the INC will convene for a one-day resumed session (INC-5.3) on February 7, 2026, in Geneva. This meeting will be administrative in nature and focus on the election of officers, including a new Chair. Let me take this opportunity to acknowledge former INC Chair, Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso, whose leadership brought us to this important point. And of course, the leadership of Ambassador Meza Cuadra until INC-3.
Naturally, a one-day meeting has heavy financial implications. We provided the Bureau with other feasible options and are now organising the meeting, taking all cost-saving measures possible.
Under a new Chair, the Committee will chart a path to the subsequent session. My plea to Member States is to use the intersessional period to make meaningful substantive progress. This will require carefully designing this period to help narrow remaining gaps.
Building consensus will take time, persistence and, crucially, ongoing dialogue – not only with those who share similar positions but with those who do not, so viable landing zones can emerge. I strongly encourage Member States to continue this informal engagement. As a Member-State driven process, continued transparency will be key to ensure trust, legitimacy and collective ownership of the path forward.
I am mindful that all of this will need time, but science tells us that time is not unlimited. So, let us try to move briskly, but carefully. I firmly believe that countries can still come together and deliver a treaty for the ages that sends a clear and impactful global signal. And with it, move the world closer to an end to plastic pollution.
By Inger Andersen, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)