Global Plastics Treaty Talks Resume Amid Health, Production Disputes in Geneva

Negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty are resuming in Geneva with hopes for a legally binding agreement to curb plastic pollution, but face significant opposition from petrochemical-producing countries and the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump, which favors limiting the treaty's scope to waste management rather than production caps. Health concerns are central to the debate, highlighted by new reports from The Lancet and WWF-Australia, which emphasize plastic pollution's severe impacts on human and planetary health, including economic losses exceeding $1.5 trillion annually and disproportionate harm to vulnerable populations. Advocates and scientists stress the urgency of adopting a comprehensive treaty covering the full lifecycle of plastics, including production, chemical bans, and financing mechanisms to support developing countries. Despite deadlocks in previous talks and industry lobbying efforts, a broad coalition of countries and experts urge ambitious, enforceable actions to address the crisis through evidence-based policies. WWF-Australia calls on nations to pursue all diplomatic avenues to secure a strong treaty, noting Australia's significant plastic waste footprint. The upcoming two-week negotiation session is seen as possibly the last chance to forge a global agreement that protects both people and nature from plastic pollution's escalating harms.