Overview

• Nearly 180 countries met in Geneva from August 5 to 14 under the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee but failed to agree on a legally binding plastics treaty.
• States split between calls for upstream measures such as caps on virgin plastic production and demands for a narrow focus on waste-management contributed to the deadlock.
• Successive drafts were pared back under consensus rules and industry lobbying, removing pivotal terms and the article on human health.
• UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed regret over the impasse and countries including South Africa vowed to pursue domestic bans, extended producer responsibility and international advocacy.
• The timetable, venue and format for the next round of treaty negotiations remain undecided as nations advance national measures and diplomatic efforts.