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Stalled at the Negotiating Table: Updates from INC-5.2 Towards a Global Plastics Treaty
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Researchers analyzed the second session of the fifth round of global plastics treaty negotiations (INC-5.2), finding that talks ended without agreement due to persistent divisions over production caps and financial mechanisms, though areas of convergence emerged that leave a path forward open.
Abstract On 15 August 2025, the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee ( INC-5.2 ) on an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution concluded without agreement. Despite high expectations for substantial progress at this additional session, negotiations revealed persistent divisions between States over production caps, a financial mechanism and decision-making procedures. However, describing INC-5.2 as a mere failure would be misleading: areas of convergence were identified, and some progress was evident amid delays. This article examines the procedural dynamics and substantive developments of INC-5.2 , offering reflections on its outcomes and potential paths forward.
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The Global Plastics Treaty negotiations at INC-5.2 in 2025 collapsed due to a fundamental split between nations favoring upstream plastic production caps and oil-producing states limiting discussion to downstream waste management. This governance failure has profound implications for microplastic pollution, as without production limits, plastic fragmentation into the environment will continue accelerating.
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In August 2025, countries met in Geneva to try to finalize a global treaty limiting plastic pollution, but talks stalled without an agreement due to disagreements over key issues like limiting plastic production and regulating harmful chemical additives. This matters because plastics—and the microplastics and chemicals they shed—are found in our food, water, and even our bodies, and without binding international rules, the flow of plastic pollution (and the health risks that come with it) will likely keep growing unchecked.
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