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Lessons Translated: Civil Society Organizations as Knowledge Brokers in Global Plastic Treaty Negotiations
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This study examined how civil society organizations (CSOs) functioned as knowledge brokers during the UNDP's Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) process for a global plastics treaty, which concluded without consensus after six rounds of negotiations from 2022 to 2025. CSOs translated complex treaty language, reframed plastics as issues of justice and human rights through side-events and digital activism, with digital technologies amplifying their brokerage role by bridging global governance with community mobilization.
Plastic pollution has become a defining global environmental challenge, leading the UNDP to mandate the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to negotiate for a legally binding instrument. However, after six rounds of negotiations between 2022 and 2025, the process concluded without consensus or an adopted treaty, reflecting deep political cleavages. On one side, the High Ambition Coalition (HAC), comprising Global South states heavily impacted by plastic waste and Global North states with strong environmental standards, pushed for a comprehensive and stringent agreement. On the other side, oil-producer states and major plastic-producing countries resisted binding provisions on production and trade, favouring a business-as-usual approach. Within this contested landscape, civil society organizations (CSOs) played a pivotal role not only as advocates but also as knowledge brokers. This study examines how CSOs brokered knowledge during INC negotiations through informal arenas such as side-events and technical workshops, where they translated complex treaty language, reframed plastics as issues of justice and human rights, and reinforced HAC positions. Beyond negotiation halls, CSOs extended their brokerage through digital activism, transforming lessons from these arenas into webinars, infographics, and social media campaigns that disseminated knowledge globally. The analysis highlights how digital technologies amplify CSO brokerage, bridging global governance with community mobilization.
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