WWF: No progress on global plastic treaty

"After nearly two weeks of tense negotiations, we are still far from a global treaty to end plastic pollution. What we have seen and heard over the past 10 days is not enough. While offering a strong vision, it was clear that the ambitious majority was unwilling to fully utilize the multilateral tools at its disposal to secure the set of binding global rules the Treaty requires. If the past 10 days have shown us anything, it's that seeking unanimous consensus will not deliver the Treaty the world has been demanding and our leaders have promised," said Eva Alessi, WWF's sustainability director, commenting on the "disappointing" conclusion of INC-5.2 in Geneva, "without the adoption of a text on which to negotiate or clear plans for how the Treaty can be implemented."

"Business, science, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders," Alessi continued, "have played their part in presenting evidence and championing the case for a meaningful Treaty. Our determination to end plastic pollution remains strong. We will continue to work with governments, communities, and partners across all regions to address it throughout its lifecycle, but achieving the required outcome requires a strong stance from Member States. And we will be there every step of the way to help secure the Treaty that people and nature need."

Zaynab Sadan, WWF's Global Plastics Policy Lead and head of the INC-5.2 delegation, said: "The failure to reach an agreement in Geneva is a bitter disappointment. What we saw in Geneva is that the vast majority of the world's states have expressed their willingness and alignment for an effective Treaty to end plastic pollution.

This gives hope for the future. However, a minority of opposing countries and a decision-making process based on unanimous consensus leave us without having achieved the desired result and demonstrate that this approach is not functional in international environmental negotiations.