By Abbas Nazil
Norway, the biggest donor to the United Nations Environment Programme, has suspended funding agreements pending a review of UNEP’s revised budget, raising fears over the future of already troubled global plastics treaty negotiations.
The move comes at a critical stage in international efforts to tackle plastic pollution, with countries failing to reach consensus after six rounds of negotiations since 2022.
Sources disclosed that UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen was informed during a recent meeting with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation that all funding agreements were temporarily on hold until budget decisions are completed.
Norway has contributed about $12 million annually to UNEP over the last three years up to 2025.
The country also provided an additional $19 million to the Planetary Fund and nearly $8 million in earmarked environmental funding in 2025, making the pause a major concern for environmental groups and member states already worried about the United Nations’ broader financial pressures.
The uncertainty extends beyond UNEP operations, as NGOs were also informed that a Norwegian funding programme supporting anti-plastic pollution projects in developing countries had been postponed.
The programme, valued between £4 million and £6 million yearly, helps countries participate in the global plastics treaty process.
Environmental campaigners warned that any reduction or delay in support could weaken momentum toward securing a legally binding treaty aimed at addressing the full lifecycle of plastics.
Norway and Rwanda currently co-lead the High Ambition Coalition advocating stricter global measures against plastic pollution, including possible limits on plastic production.
The coalition has faced resistance from some oil-producing nations opposed to production caps.
Negotiations have also suffered repeated setbacks, including the sudden resignation of the treaty chair last year after talks stalled with minimal progress.
Fresh negotiations are expected to resume in early 2027 under a newly elected chairperson.
Karen Landmark of GRID-Arendal warned that Norway’s hesitation could encourage other countries to lower their environmental commitments during negotiations.
Critics further pointed to Norway’s strong petroleum industry, which generated about £52 billion in 2025, accusing the government of sending mixed signals on environmental leadership while expanding gas production in the North Sea.
Norwegian officials, however, insisted that the review process was temporary and necessary due to economic pressures and ongoing assessments of future cooperation priorities.
