This August should have marked a turning point in the fight against plastic pollution. Instead, after 11 days of negotiations in Geneva, the world once again disagreed on a binding global treaty to end plastic pollution. The talks closed without consensus, without a roadmap, and with growing doubts about whether a meaningful deal is still possible.
Back in 2022, the United Nations promised the world a treaty that would address plastic pollution across its entire life cycle, from production and design to waste and cleanup. This was hailed as the “Paris Agreement for plastics” and was supposed to be completed by 2024. We are now past that deadline, and negotiations are stalling. Meanwhile, plastic production is still rising. According to the OECD, plastic waste could triple by 2060 if nothing changes, with less than 20% likely to be recycled. That means more plastics in our oceans, our food chains, and our bodies.
The core disagreement in Geneva was fundamental. Ambitious countries such as members of the EU, several African and Latin American states, and small island nations argued that the treaty must include binding limits on plastic production and controls on toxic chemicals. Producer states, including major oil and gas exporters, refused and pushed for a treaty focused only on waste management and recycling, leaving production untouched. The United States took a particularly tough stance, rejecting calls for production limits and tighter chemical controls. This deadlock made it impossible to reach a consensus.
Some countries spoke out forcefully against a weak draft. Bangladesh rejected the text altogether, saying it ignored the need for supply-side measures. Many civil society groups agreed, warning that a treaty limited to recycling targets would be meaningless in a world where only about six per cent of plastics are effectively recycled today.
The collapse of the talks risks locking the world into decades more of unchecked plastic growth. Recycling alone cannot stop the flood of waste: what is needed are production caps, reuse systems, transparency on toxic additives, and strong financial support for developing nations.
Despite Geneva’s failure, hope is not lost. A coalition of ambitious countries may move forward together with their own binding commitments. Regional organisations such as the European Union are already tightening internal rules on packaging, single-use plastics, and recycled content. Developing countries continue to demand real finance and technology transfers, not just promises, to ensure they can take part in global solutions.
For Venice Lagoon Plastic Free, the message is clear: the world cannot afford further delays. Every year without action means more plastic entering our seas and lagoons, threatening biodiversity, livelihoods, and health. As we continue our work here in Venice, monitoring, cleaning, and raising awareness, we also join the global call for a strong, fair, and effective treaty. The failure in Geneva is a wake-up call. Civil society must keep the pressure on governments to deliver more than words, because the fight for a global plastics treaty is far from over.