Overview

• Negotiations in Geneva concluded on August 14 without a final treaty after delegates failed to bridge divisions over binding production limits and chemical regulations
• More than 100 countries, including EU members and Pacific island states, demanded legally enforceable caps on virgin plastic output and stricter controls on toxic additives
• A coalition of petrochemical-producing nations and industry delegations advocated for a narrower agreement focused on waste management, recycling and voluntary targets
• INC chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso postponed plenary sessions and held overnight consultations, but no consensus was reached and the timeline for resuming talks is unclear
• UN Environment warns plastic waste could triple by 2060 without a robust treaty while around 40 million informal recyclers seek formal recognition and protections