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Against the clock to address plastic pollution: Critical challenges to elaborate a comprehensive and ambitious Plastic Treaty
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This analysis of the ongoing UN Plastics Treaty negotiations identifies ten critical unresolved issues—including scope, equity, financing, and binding commitments—that could compromise the treaty's environmental ambitions. The authors warn that domestic interests and international power disparities may weaken the final instrument, calling for greater international cooperation to prioritize global environmental integrity.
Abstract To address the global challenge of plastic waste, 175 UN Member States are negotiating a legally binding instrument, the Plastic Treaty, aimed at ending plastic pollution. This ambitious framework, targeting both terrestrial and marine sources, is being developed through Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meetings scheduled to conclude by 2025. Amidst uncertainties and power dynamics influencing state positions, this research identifies 10 critical, yet unresolved, points within the treaty negotiations (i.e., the scope of the treaty, equity and differentiation, involvement of non-state actors, integration with existing agreements, standards and specifications, trade implications, monitoring and reporting, responsibility and historical contributions, binding vs. non-binding commitments, and financing and technology transfer). The findings suggest potential compromises in the treaty’s environmental provisions, influenced by domestic interests and international power disparities. As negotiations progress, the imperative for cooperation and decisive action against plastic pollution becomes increasingly pressing, challenging member states to prioritize global environmental integrity over national interests.
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Analysis of five UN INC sessions on the Global Plastics Treaty reveals deep divergences on compliance mechanisms, financing, and technology transfer that have stalled progress since the 2022 UNEA resolution. The article argues the treaty must operationalize common-but-differentiated responsibilities, establish robust non-compliance procedures, and secure sustainable financial support to meaningfully curb transboundary marine plastic pollution.
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Analysis of the zero draft text for the global plastics treaty found it lacks a clear problem definition and has a downstream focus on fishing gear, while upstream production controls are equally important. Key motivations in the draft center on health and environmental concerns, but significant differences exist between EU and international priorities regarding how health and economic arguments are framed.
Competing axes of power in the global plastics treaty: Understanding the politics of progress and setbacks in negotiating a high-ambition agreement
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This analysis examined the December 2024 UN plastics treaty negotiations in Busan, South Korea, where a majority of states supported high-ambition legally binding measures on hazardous plastics and chemical regulation, but petrostates and industry interests stalled progress. The paper identifies intersecting axes of pro-plastics power and argues that strengthening the high-ambition coalition and enhancing transparency are critical to achieving a robust global plastics treaty.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.