Overview

• The INC chair closed the session on August 15 without consensus on a treaty text and with no date or mandate set for the next round.
• More than 2,600 participants from about 183 countries met at the Palais des Nations from August 5 to 15.
• Two late-stage chair drafts that removed proposed production limits, chemical controls and health protections were rejected by high‑ambition countries.
• UN leaders voiced regret, and business and NGO coalitions urged governments to pursue harmonised, full‑lifecycle regulations rather than rely on voluntary efforts.
• Several governments signaled interim national measures, with South Africa advancing bans and strengthened EPR, as experts press to scale cleanup alongside prevention.