August 12, 2025 | Tuesday
Join Member State Delegates from Ethiopia, Fiji, and Panama, and members of civil society from the Global South for a press conference on Global South ambition in the plastics treaty negotiations Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 4pm Geneva Time at Building E, Room XXVII (27).
Speakers include:
Hiwot Hailu- Chief of Staff, FDRE EPA [Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia- Environmental Protection Authority]
Dr. Sivendra Michael – Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Fiji Government
Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, Head of Panama delegation
Over the last five INC processes, we’ve seen rising ambition from many member states, led by countries in the Global South, despite a concerted effort from a few states to push a weak treaty. At this resumed session, the stakes are high but the ambition is higher. GAIA and our leaders from civil society and member states of the Global South demand that we continue to lean on ambition and not let this treaty be defined by those who profit from the plastic industry.
The EU Speaks Out About the “Drama” of the Negotiations
Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall and Danish Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke spoke at a press conference where they emphasized: the EU is here to make a deal. However they did also mention several times that the discussion so far has been difficult, and entreated that “all parties be pragmatic and come to the table and make compromises.”
Magnus stated, “There was drama yesterday, there’s going to be a lot more drama in the days to come. Because this is so important, it’s crucial. And it is really difficult. We are investing in it politically, we are here from the EU to make a deal, but if you’re looking for drama, stay here, because a lot more drama is going to happen, but this drama should end up in a deal.” There is sure to be drama in the last two days of negotiations, but we hope that the ones stirring up the drama will be ambitious countries doing everything in their power to secure an ambitious treaty.…
The Chair Fails to Reassure in Observer Meeting
INC Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso held a short meeting with Observers with the aim of reassuring us that INC-5.2 is on the right track to a treaty by Thursday, despite the dysfunction that has dominated this and previous INC’s under his watch. He stated that he was meeting with a small group of around 30 countries, and asked some colleagues to lead meetings to advance on issues blocking negotiations. He urged civil society to help find common ground and reach landing zones– quite a task given that one small group of countries has shown an unwillingness to budge on just about anything, and the Chair is unwilling to change the way negotiations take place to break through the consensus deadlock. He did not open the floor for questions from Observers. INC Secretary Jyoti Mathur-Filipp even went as far as to joke that we would all soon be able to jump into the lake together on Friday to celebrate a treaty well- done. Needless to say, no one is grabbing their bathing suits just yet.
HAC & Friends Meet
Ministers or Heads of Delegations representing over 60 countries attended a High Ambition Coalition (HAC) & Friends High-level Reception on Tuesday. According to the organizers, the reception was meant to: “provide an opportunity for Members to exchange views, and moreover to galvanise and rally high-level representatives from countries pursuing an ambitious and effective international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.” Invitations were extended to all ambitious countries. The success of a treaty depends on this group remaining aligned and working together to outmaneuver low-ambition countries.
Civil Society in Action
Civil society warns: Stop Hiding Behind Consensus
On Tuesday morning, as Ministers arrived at the Palais des Nations, civil society members organized a silent protest, holding up signs calling for countries to “stop hiding behind consensus! Show courage for future generations!”
African Youth Speak Out
This International Youth Day, a powerful new video has been released – and it carries the voices of young Africans demanding bold action at INC5_2 for a Strong, Just & Equitable Global Plastics Treaty. “From the Sahara to the Serengeti, Plastic Free Africa Now!”
The Science is Clear: Plastic Production Cuts Must Stay
The Scientist Coalition held a press conference where they discussed the importance of retaining an article on plastic production reduction based on the scientific consensus that plastic pollution is too big of a threat to be managed without strong reduction targets.
Megan Deeney of London School of Tropical Medicine stated, “Chemicals are released across the entire plastics life-cycle and that begins with raw material extraction. And here fenceline and frontline and Indigenous communities and workers are the ones hit first and often hardest, but we are all exposed… We could choose to do this now, or we can wait until it’s that much worse, and that much harder to come back from.”
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About GAIA
GAIA is a worldwide alliance of more than 1,000 grassroots groups, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in over 90 countries. With our work we aim to catalyze a global shift towards environmental justice by strengthening grassroots social movements that advance solutions to waste and pollution. We envision a just, zero waste world built on respect for ecological limits and community rights, where people are free from the burden of toxic pollution, and resources are sustainably conserved, not burned or dumped.
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