A decisive chapter in the global fight against plastic pollution began on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland.
Delegates from 184 countries convened for the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2 session).
This historic mission is to finalise a legally binding international treaty aimed at ending plastic pollution, including in marine environments – and prepare it for adoption at a future Diplomatic Conference.
According to a statement by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the high-stakes negotiations, will run from Aug. 5 to Aug. 14.
It said the negotiations mark the culmination of a two-year process that began in Punta del Este, Uruguay, in 2022, and continued through key sessions in Paris, Nairobi, Ottawa, and most recently, Busan, Republic of Korea, in December 2024.
According to the statement, INC-5.2 has brought together more than 3,700 participants from 184 nations and over 619 observer organisations, making it the most ambitious global environmental negotiation since the Paris Agreement.
“Plastic pollution is already in nature, in our oceans, and even in our bodies. If we continue on this trajectory, the whole world will be drowning in plastic—with massive consequences for planetary, economic, and human health.
“But this does not have to be our future. Agreeing on a treaty text is the first step to beating plastic pollution for everyone, everywhere,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.
Since the last session in Busan, momentum has been building through a series of informal ministerial consultations, regional dialogues, and stakeholder meetings.
However, this Geneva session marks the moment for concrete outcomes.
Luis Vayas Valdivieso, Chair of the INC, said, “We are here today to fulfill an international mandate.
“This is a unique and historic opportunity for the global community to bridge differences and find common ground.
“It is not just a test of our diplomacy; it is a test of our collective responsibility to protect the environment, safeguard human health, enable sustainable economies, and stand in solidarity with those most affected by this crisis,” Valdivieso remarked.
The treaty under negotiation is expected to cover the entire life cycle of plastics from production and design to consumption, disposal, and remediation.
It will also tackle associated issues such as microplastics, extended producer responsibility, financial mechanisms, and technology transfer, crucial to countries in the Global South.
Katrin Schneeberger, Director, Swiss Federal Office for the Environment, said: “Plastic waste is choking our lakes, harming wildlife, and threatening human health.
“This is more than just an environmental issue. It is a global challenge that demands urgent and collective action.
“Over the coming days, we have an opportunity to make a real difference by negotiating an effective Plastics Treaty and identifying comprehensive solutions and measures that address the full life cycle of plastic,” he added.
Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary of the INC, said: “What was set in motion in Nairobi has weathered complexities, moments of challenge, and hard-won progress – and it is precisely this shared endurance that strengthens our resolve and brings us, determined and forward-looking, to this historic hall today.
“Being hosted at the Palais des Nations situates INC‑5.2 within a long tradition of crucial multilateral negotiations, diplomatic breakthroughs, and international legal frameworks. It is essential that this session now be part of that legacy.”
By Usman Aliyu