Fossil Fuel Lobbyists Outnumber Delegates at Global Plastics Treaty Talks

The final round of global plastics treaty negotiations in Geneva has seen a record high presence of 234 fossil fuel and petrochemical industry lobbyists, surpassing the combined delegations of all 27 EU member states. These lobbyists, including representatives from major companies like Dow, ExxonMobil, and the American Chemistry Council, also infiltrate national delegations of countries such as Egypt, Kazakhstan, China, Iran, Chile, and the Dominican Republic, giving them influence over treaty positions. Civil society groups and environmental advocates warn that this overwhelming industry presence risks weakening the treaty’s ambition to reduce plastic production and manage toxic additives, as the industry seeks to protect its interests. The plastics treaty aims to legally bind countries to tackle plastic pollution throughout its lifecycle, but negotiations have been contentious, with sharp divisions over production limits and chemical management. Indigenous groups and scientists, heavily outnumbered by industry lobbyists, insist on strong protections and binding caps, while the fossil fuel sector pushes to delay systemic change. Critics describe the situation as a crisis of credibility, highlighting concerns that the very industries responsible for plastic pollution are shaping the treaty’s outcome.