UNEP, EU chiefs react as UN plastic talks collapse in Geneva

By Abbas Nazil & Abdullahi Lukman

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen has expressed disappointment over the collapse of negotiations on a global treaty to curb plastic pollution.

She noted that multilateral negotiations were never easy and called for reflection before the process resumes.

The EU Commissioner Jessika Roswall also expressed frustration, stressing that science and the majority of nations support binding measures, though consensus proved elusive.

Negotiations on a global treaty to curb plastic pollution collapsed in Geneva on Friday after 183 nations failed to reach agreement following twelve days of talks.

Norway announced the breakdown at 7am after an overtime session of more than 24 hours ended without progress, leaving the process stalled after three years of diplomacy.

Despite widespread calls for an ambitious and legally binding deal, sharp divisions over production limits, toxic chemicals, and financing proved impossible to bridge.

The collapse marks another setback following last December’s failed summit in Busan, South Korea.

Both draft texts tabled by chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso of Ecuador were rejected, with petrochemical producers led by Saudi Arabia, the United States, Russia, and India dismissing even weakened versions stripped of key provisions.

High ambition nations, supported by around 100 countries in the coalition led by Denmark, had pushed for global measures to cover the full life cycle of plastics, stressing the urgency of limiting production and regulating harmful chemicals.

But petrochemical states argued the crisis could be solved through waste management and recycling, despite recycling rates globally remaining below ten percent.

France’s environment minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher accused a handful of countries of blocking progress for financial interests.

Palau’s president Surangel Whipps Jr, speaking for small island states, vowed not to give up despite the failure, highlighting the vulnerability of island nations overwhelmed by plastic pollution and climate threats.

The failure underscores a wider rift in visions for global plastics governance.

More than 130 countries support binding rules to reduce production, while oil-producing states want to protect revenue streams from petrochemicals, with plastic production projected to triple by 2060.

The OECD estimates that plastics already emit over two gigatons of CO2 annually, placing the industry among the world’s top greenhouse gas emitters.

Scientists warn plastics and microplastics infiltrating ecosystems and human bodies cause cancer, infertility, cardiovascular diseases and hundreds of thousands of premature deaths.

Yet petrochemical countries removed all references to health, climate, and chemicals from the draft text.

Civil society also voiced anger, with Greenpeace warning that fossil fuel interests were allowed to bury ambition.

Delegates reported that 234 petrochemical lobbyists attended the talks, outnumbering scientists three to one.

Critics said the process lacked transparency, with many negotiations held behind closed doors.

Developing countries resisted behind-the-scenes pressure, but the consensus rule allowed low-ambition states to stall the process.

Observers described the talks as mismanaged and predetermined to fail, with no clear strategy to break the stalemate.

The collapse has also drawn sharp criticism from environmental advocates.

Bengt Rittri, founder of Blueair and current CEO of Bluewater, expressed deep frustration and sadness, warning that the lack of decisive action would have devastating consequences for the planet and future generations.

“Over 600 billion single-use plastic bottles are produced each year, and less than ten percent are recycled,” he said.

“The rest pollute our land, water, air, and food – it’s a toxic legacy.”

Rittri stressed that scientists have already detected microplastics in rainwater, marine life, and even human blood.

Harmful substances like PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” are now present in nearly everyone globally.

While reaffirming Bluewater’s commitment to technological solutions, Rittri emphasized the importance of individual responsibility.

“Technology alone isn’t enough,” he said.

“Everyday choices – like choosing reusable bottles – matter.

We must all demand better and take action.”

Further negotiations will be scheduled at an undetermined time and place, but based on the failed Busan text, the agreement is no closer to completion than six months ago.

With the plastics industry set to expand rapidly, the world faces rising environmental, health, and climate threats as talks remain mired in deadlock.