More than 2,000 experts wrapped up a week of negotiations sponsored by the United Nations to address plastic pollution, one of the largest global conferences ever focused on this problem. The goal is a binding international agreement to tackle plastic pollution on a planetary scale. The core debate centers on whether the deal should be voluntary and country-led or mandatory and global in scope.
The first gathering of the United Nations committee established to draft what organizers describe as a landmark pact to end plastic pollution worldwide took place.
“The world needs this agreement because billions of plastics are produced each year, and there is no way to guarantee that this plastic will not end up in the environment,” stated Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Committee on Plastics Negotiations, as quoted by the Associated Press.
All beaches in regions once considered pristine now host litter, and even a random handful of sand often reveals countless small plastic fragments.
beach with plastic garbage PA
The United Nations Environment Programme led the five-day meeting in Punta del Este, Uruguay, a location long known for its beaches.
Delegates from more than 150 countries, alongside plastics industry representatives, environmentalists, scientists, recyclers, community leaders, and groups affected by contamination, participated in the discussions. Plastic recyclers, particularly those from lower-income nations who work without basic labor or health protections, are seeking recognition of their work and a just transition toward paid, safe, and sustainable jobs.
Even at this first of five planned meetings over the next two years, different positions emerged. Some countries pushed for national solutions, while others favored an international strategy. If a final deal is reached, it would stand as the first legally binding global framework to address plastic pollution.
Does not support industry restrictions
The American Chemistry Council, a trade group for chemical companies, helped shape the industry’s early stance. Joshua Baca, vice president of the plastics division, said many companies want collaboration with governments because they are frustrated by the problem. However, he warned that some nations would resist production restrictions and prefer national approaches.
“Efforts should ensure used plastics never mix with nature,” Baca noted. “A top-down approach that bans or limits production does not solve the challenges in waste management.”
The United States, a major plastics producer, advocates national plans that allow governments to identify the most critical sources and types of plastic pollution to target first.
Most plastic products are derived from fossil fuels. Other oil, gas, and plastics-producing countries have called for accountability at the national level. A representative of China acknowledged the difficulty of achieving effective control over global plastic pollution with a single universal approach.
A representative from Saudi Arabia urged that each country should determine its own action plan, arguing against standardization or harmonization. The delegate emphasized that plastics play a key role in sustainable development, while urging the deal to recognize ongoing plastic production alongside efforts to curb its pollution by addressing poor waste management.
National plans or global plans?
Some participants referred to these nations as a “low ambition” group. Andrés Del Castillo, senior attorney at the International Center for Environmental Law, explained that while national plans matter, they should not form the backbone of the agreement; the current system is inadequate to address cross-border plastic pollution.
“There is little point in meeting with experts from around the world five times to discuss voluntary actions when robust controls are needed to reduce and eventually eliminate plastic pollution on a global scale. This is a cross-border issue.”
“Plastics are fossil fuels in another form and pose serious threats to human rights, climate, and biodiversity,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote on social media.
Some blocs advocate a highly ambitious coalition aiming to end plastic pollution by 2040 through a strong, legally binding international instrument. Norway and Rwanda are noted as leading proponents of this approach.
Plastic covers everything, a delegate from Norway stated, and the first priority is to identify which plastics, polymers, and chemical additives should be eliminated to accelerate progress.
African countries, along with Switzerland, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and others, have urged a global approach, arguing that voluntary, fragmented national plans will not suffice to address the scale of plastic pollution. Small island nations dependent on the ocean for food and livelihoods reported being overwhelmed by debris washing ashore. Developing nations called for financial support to combat plastic pollution.
Australia, the United Kingdom, and Brazil argued that international obligations should complement national actions.
It is also a health issue
Tadesse Amera, an environmental scientist, contends that the agreement should address not only waste but also environmental health concerns. Chemicals in plastics become problematic at every stage of use, recycling, disposal, and incineration. Amera, director of the Ethiopian Pesticide Action Nexus Association and co-chair of the International Pollutant Elimination Network, states, “This is not merely a waste management issue; it is a chemical and health issue affecting humans and biodiversity.”
People from communities affected by plastics attended the meeting to ensure their voices were heard in the negotiations. Frankie Orona, executive director of the Native Nations League in Texas, emphasized the need for more inclusive participation. “There is a lack of inclusion of those directly harmed by this industry. They must be at the table,” he said. “Most of the time, there are solutions.”
Orona added that while governments should aim higher, current negotiations seem focused on reducing plastic rather than eradicating it. “We need to free ourselves from plastic altogether,” he argued.
The next meeting is slated for spring in France, with the aim of moving toward concrete measures to end the plastic invasion.
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Note: The environment department will not be providing direct contact details or public forms as part of this summary.