By Ajibola Adedoye
Geneva, Switzerland – Four days into the final Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, we are not on track to deliver a treaty that will protect people and nature. Enough is enough; something must change. We are joining the voices of waste pickers, frontline communities, scientists, healthcare professionals, children and youth, women, businesses, and non-governmental organizations around the world, calling on governments to step up. Fix the process, keep your promise, and finalize a meaningful treaty to end plastic pollution.
“The Global Plastics Treaty must enable a process for effective decision-making,” states Merrisa Naidoo, GAIA Africa Plastics Program Manager. “To avoid earnest negotiations amounting to nothing, negotiators must demonstrate courage, not compromise by calling for a majority vote when consensus cannot be reached. If we continue to stall in consensus, we trade progress for paralysis.”
After five rounds of negotiations over two years, and a repeat performance of obstruction from minority countries over the past four days, tensions are at a boiling point. The “stocktake” plenary is scheduled for Saturday August 9, 2025 where co-chairs will give an update on the progress–or lack thereof– in negotiations thus far. This is the opportunity for ambitious countries to finally break through the consensus deadlock and call for a vote.
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Rafael Eudes of Aliança Resíduo Zero Brasil states, “It is time to use decision-making tools that allow willing counties to move forward instead of letting a few run negotiations around in circles. A strong treaty with majority support beats a weak treaty that caters only to the few. Governments need to hear civil society’s urgent demand for ambition– the credibility of multilateralism and the planet’s future is on the line.”
While international negotiations should strive for consensus, a small group of “like-minded” countries (primarily petro-states) have been blocking progress at each round of negotiations (INC), by refusing to compromise on its opposition to the ambitious proposals agreed upon by the majority of Member States, and insisting on consensus at all costs, even though the Rules of Procedure have a provision for majority vote if consensus cannot be reached.
Voting is democracy. Provisions for voting are an essential bargaining chip that can serve to bring the more obstructive parties to the negotiating table. Calling for a vote is a common process that has led to success with other international treaties.
“Delegates need to deliver on their promise, a promise relied upon by communities in my country, Cameroon, since the UNEA Resolution 5/14,” states Olivia Mah Tamon of FEDEV. “Not delivering on this promise to end plastic pollution will continue to affect vulnerable communities across the world.”
The dysfunction and delay pushed by the fossil fuel majors and petro-states have stalled progress on so many critical environmental issues, particularly the climate. Decorum should not stand between the world and a strong plastics treaty. Now is the time to be bold, and rescue the multilateralism of the many from the destructive forces of the few.
Nalini Shekar of Hasiru Dala states, “Negotiations are hard as each country brings its different reality to the table. But countries must align for the common goal of protecting the health of our environment and its people. Profits must not come at the cost of humanity.”
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