As the dust settles after ten intense days (August 5-15, 2025) at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, we are left without what could have been the world’s first global plastic treaty. A strong treaty would have meaningfully paved the way to reduce plastic pollution by capping production, phasing out harmful chemicals, and addressing the entire lifecycle of plastics from design to disposal.
In March 2022, recognizing the dire need to reduce plastic pollution on a global scale, leaders and representatives from 175 countries endorsed a historic resolution at the United Nations Environment Assembly to develop a Global Plastics Treaty. Since then, there have been six rounds of negotiations to draft and finalize the treaty text.
Surfrider joined the Break Free From Plastic movement members, including Surfrider Europe and organizations from all around the world, fighting for a strong global plastics treaty during the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-5.2).
The Fallout: Irreconcilable Differences, Undue Industry Influence, and a Flawed Process
Despite the efforts of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) to End Plastic Pollution, a bloc of over 60+ countries, including Rwanda, Norway, Panama, the European Union (and its Member States), Canada, Chile, and Small Island Developing States, pushing for a comprehensive and ambitious global treaty, petro-states blocked the process.
Petrochemical-aligned countries such as the United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Kuwait created a roadblock, pushing for voluntary actions, national flexibility, and a focus on recycling and waste management — despite a wide scientific consensus that production-level interventions are necessary.
Miho, Senior Plastic Pollution Initiative Manager, with Panama Climate Envoy Juan Carlos Monterrey-Gomez
The industry lobbyists' presence was clearly felt, more than in past negotiations. At least 234 fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists were present, far outnumbering civil society organizations like Surfrider, Indigenous groups, and frontline community representatives. This highly unbalanced power dynamic influenced and pressured countries and ultimately helped shape the narrative to maintain the status quo at the cost of our communities and environment.
Furthermore, consensus decision-making — meant to foster agreement — has become a tool for obstruction. Under consensus, a single country can block progress for all. In Geneva, this allowed petro-states to stall bold measures, even when over 100 countries supported stronger action. The result? Paralysis. Many now believe that unless the rules are changed, future sessions will be held hostage to the same tactics.
Surfrider commends HAC leaders for not compromising and preventing a weakening of ambition through compromises.
Civil Society Organizations make a strong statement to delegations. Photo credit: Markus Winkler | WWF
Looking Forward: The Fight Continues
Although an agreement was not reached and the next steps for the negotiation process are up in the air, what remains certain is that the fight to reduce plastic pollution continues.
Walking away without a treaty means that we are not locked into a weak treaty focused on waste management and recycling, with no meaningful actions to reduce plastic pollution at the source. It also provides the time and opportunity to accelerate the work at the local and state level, improve the procedural process during the next round of negotiations, and build political pressure.
This isn’t the end of the road, and Surfrider, alongside our partners, will continue to prioritize frontline communities, grow the movement, and fight towards a future free of plastic for our communities, our planet, and future generations.
Make your voice heard to demand a strong global plastics treaty.
*Header image: ©Von Wong Productions 2025 | The Thinker's Burden