Potential ways forward for the Global Plastics Treaty

In this briefing, we set out urgent strategies to break the deadlock in negotiations for a global plastics treaty after INC‑5.2 in Geneva ended in stalemate.

The plastics crisis demands decisive action, so we explore four complementary pathways: elevating negotiations to the UN General Assembly, creating a Basel Plastics Protocol, launching an Ottawa‑style process among like‑minded nations, or adopting a hybrid approach. Each route carries distinct advantages and risks, but our message is clear – we must act now to deliver a strong, enforceable treaty to end plastic pollution rather than remain trapped in procedural paralysis.