The global race to seal a binding pact on plastic pollution has shifted into high gear as Nairobi hosts the UN convention this week. Delegates from more than a hundred countries are shaping a framework that could govern plastic production and waste worldwide. Observer notes from the negotiating chair, Gustavo Meza-Cuadra of Peru, point to a narrowing window, with roughly a year remaining before a final agreement would be signed. The path ahead remains uncertain as nations weigh divergent priorities and economic interests.
Meza-Cuadra stated that the key objective is to secure a clear mandate that will allow the revision of the draft text and to advance the process. His remarks came at the opening of the third meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, INC-3, tasked with drafting the agreement in the Kenyan capital. The INC-3 gathering runs through the coming days as diplomats work toward consensus on the final language.
The Peruvian diplomat underscored the tight timing, noting that the end of 2024 has been set as a deadline to arrive at a consensual text. He acknowledged the period is short, given the year he has already spent in negotiations. Still, he expressed cautious optimism that two more INC sessions could push momentum forward toward a global accord, emphasizing that progress is possible even amid tough debates.
In the words captured by Efe, Meza-Cuadra highlighted an opportunity to press ahead while recognizing ongoing areas of disagreement. The dialogue unfolded during INC-3 as delegates prepared to examine the first draft of the pact and discuss how to translate broad aims into binding rules.
That is why negotiators are working hard to secure a successful INC-3 outcome, acknowledging that some topics provoke more controversy than others.
The discussion on waste management remains a touchstone issue, with broad agreement on the need for robust measures to manage waste and curb leakage into the environment. Leaders in the venue stressed that addressing plastics must occur across their full life cycle, not merely through recycling or waste handling.
First summit with draft in hand
The INC emerged from the fifth UN Environment Assembly held in Nairobi in March 2022, when 175 countries backed the push to create a binding global response to plastic pollution. Since then, the committee has convened in Punta del Este and Paris to advance ideas and refine the draft.
Some nations resist ceding control over their production or committing to uniform limits, urging flexibility and national discretion. In prior rounds, key players have advocated for agreements that allow a broad range of commitments, potentially watering down ambitious goals. Nevertheless, a coalition of roughly sixty countries, with support from Rwanda and Norway and with backing from the European Union, continues to press for a comprehensive, lifecycle-based pact aimed at ending plastic waste by a defined horizon.
The EU and allies push for decisive action
Environmental groups pressing for concrete targets have urged Nairobi to adopt a binding framework with clear milestones. They argue for aggressive reductions in plastic production and use by mid-century, insisting that a truly effective treaty must reduce production and pollution by substantial margins within the coming years. Advocates stress the urgency of eliminating unnecessary plastic and rethinking product design to minimize waste.
UNEP’s leadership has emphasized that the pact should address the entire life cycle of plastic, not only waste management. The agency’s director general called for industry involvement in driving change, urging companies to innovate and reimagine product lines to reduce plastic use.
The debate also touches on the broader energy transition. Plastic production currently relies heavily on petrochemicals linked to fossil fuels, complicating the shift away from coal, oil and gas. Delegates are weighing how to balance industrial interests with environmental imperatives as negotiations proceed.
Two opposing sides
While the majority recognize the planetary scale of the challenge, some participants favor country-specific rules and flexible commitments rather than a universal mandate. Previous negotiations have highlighted the risk that a looser agreement could undermine the objective of ending plastic pollution altogether. A cross-continental coalition maintains that a robust, binding instrument is achievable, aligning global standards with national realities.
As discussions continue, the group will assess the halfway point of negotiations later this week and plan for further sessions scheduled for early 2024 in Canada and South Korea. The process remains dynamic, with diplomats seeking a path that successfully binds nations to a shared lifecycle approach to plastics.
Analysts note that the Nairobi meeting is a critical moment for aligning environmental goals with economic and industrial considerations, ensuring that the final text encourages innovation while delivering meaningful reductions in plastic waste. The negotiations are framed as a turning point in how the world designs, uses and disposes of plastic as global demand persists.
Information from UNEP and participating delegations will continue to shape the evolving draft as negotiators work to produce a durable, universal response to plastic pollution. This evolving document is expected to reflect not only environmental priorities but also the practical realities of manufacturing, trade and development across nations.