The fifth session of the United Nations (UN) Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5), aimed at developing a global treaty to end plastic pollution, concluded in Busan, Republic of Korea, without a deal. Despite being slated as the final session, negotiators from over 170 countries remained gridlocked late on the final day (December 1), failing to agree on including measures to reduce plastic production.
Despite not meeting the aspirational timeframe, negotiations will continue next year. Ambitious countries and observers feel that prioritizing a strong treaty is more valuable than settling for a weak agreement now, unlike the industry’s preference for voluntary commitments that exclude plastic production.
As in the previous four sessions, progress at INC-5 was obstructed by fossil fuel and plastics industry influence, compounded by the exclusion of rightsholders disproportionately impacted by plastic pollution. Frontline allies, Indigenous Peoples, and nonprofit organizations—including the Plastic Pollution Coalition (PPC) team on the ground—were once again sidelined. Observers faced restricted access, with many negotiations held behind closed doors and some civil society members even removed from overcrowded rooms.
Amid these roadblocks, demonstrations for a strong treaty throughout the week by civil society, Indigenous Peoples, and ambitious delegates reinforced the urgency of reaching a meaningful and binding agreement. These efforts highlighted the stark divide between a majority pushing for ambition and a minority of nations stalling on key issues such as production caps, toxic chemical regulation, and an equitable financial mechanism to support Global South nations disproportionately affected by the plastics crisis.
“Plastic pollutes throughout its existence, and a strong globally binding treaty is critical for a healthy future for humanity. While we are disappointed with the outcome of INC-5—little to no progress on the treaty text—we remain hopeful and are very inspired by the growing collaboration and efforts of a majority of ambitious countries. We will keep pushing for a treaty that caps plastic production and prioritizes health, centers frontline and fenceline communities, acknowledges the rights of Indigenous Peoples and rights holders, restricts problematic plastic products and chemicals of concern, and supports non-toxic reuse systems. We are proud to stand with our incredible community of allies and continue our work toward a more just, equitable, regenerative world free of plastic pollution and its toxic impacts.”
– Dianna Cohen, Co-Founder & CEO, Plastic Pollution Coalition
Ambition Grows for Turning Off the Tap
Despite pressure from a handful of petrostates, the majority of countries are rallying together for a strong treaty, with more than 100 countries backing Panama’s proposal to reduce plastic production, 95 supporting legally binding targets to regulate harmful chemicals, and over 120 nations calling for a treaty with robust implementation measures.
In a powerful show of solidarity, Rwanda, speaking on behalf of 85 countries during the closing plenary, brought hundreds of government delegates and observers to their feet with a rallying call to “stand up for ambition.” Throughout the week, civil society representatives urged country government delegates to demonstrate “courage, not compromise,” and ultimately, high-ambition nations rejected a weak treaty proposal that failed to address the root causes of plastic pollution.
This INC also saw a record-breaking turnout—3,300 delegates total—representing governments and observers, reflecting the treaty’s growing importance on the global stage.
Plastic pollution is far beyond a single-issue concern—it represents a truly global human health, social justice, environmental, climate, and wildlife crisis, and several governments recognized this urgency, making inspiring statements that revitalized the talks and kept momentum going.
“Every day of delay is a day against humanity.”
–Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, Lead Negotiator for Panama
Civil Society Makes a Mark in Busan
Undeterred by the lack of transparency and limited participation in the negotiations, frontline activists, Indigenous groups, artists, scientists, and civil society members mobilized in Busan, demonstrating a unified effort against industry and low-ambition countries. They delivered a resounding message to world leaders: end plastic pollution at its source by capping plastic production in the global treaty.
Ahead of INC-5, on November 23, over 1,500 activists joined The Busan Plastic March. Led by members of the Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) movement and local allies from the Uproot Plastics Coalition, the march brought together impacted community leaders and experts from around the world and of all ages to speak out on the environmental justice and human rights impacts of plastic and its associated toxic chemicals.
Over the weekend, Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and BFFP delivered a petition with nearly 3 million signatures from 182 countries (including thousands contributed by PPC). In a powerful vision statement, 500 activists formed the words “End Plastic” on a local beach.
A panel conversation highlighted Champions of Change, a joint initiative by Greenpeace, BFFP, and PPC showcasing business support for ending plastic pollution. The event uplifted 350+ business leaders who signed an open letter urging for a cap on plastic production and the phase-out of single-use plastics.
Fossil Fuel Interests Loom Large
Representatives of the fossil fuel, chemical, and plastics industries once again overwhelmed the treaty talks. According to an estimate by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), 220 lobbyists attended INC-5, surpassing their presence at previous sessions and far exceeding the presence of scientists and Indigenous Peoples. Notably, 17 lobbyists were embedded within national delegations.
Industry knows this treaty could chart our future with fossil fuels and toxic chemicals, and thus seeks to greenwash and disrupt its way towards a weak outcome. After days of exclusion from the plenaries and petrostate efforts to stifle their voices, a protest by the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Plastics forced a rare opportunity for observers to take the mic.
Petrostate influence also enabled a small group of countries to stall progress on critical measures needed to address the harms of plastic pollution on frontline communities. As it stands, the draft text lacks a listing of chemicals of concern and includes numerous brackets and conflicting options, creating uncertainty about whether the articles will result in legally binding measures or voluntary commitments.
To counteract industry influence, members of Indigenous communities, frontline communities, scientists, and allies continually expressed the environmental justice impacts of plastic pollution starting from fossil fuel extraction to end pollution. Greenpeace activists boarded a petrochemical tanker in protest, calling for cuts to plastic production.
Advocates Highlight Health and Environmental Justice Impacts of Plastic
Allies arrived resolutely in Busan to uphold protections for human health and human rights. Health experts emphasized the severe harms of chemical additives. The Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty expressed optimism that the narrative at INC-5 shifted toward upstream solutions, such as regulating chemicals of concern, instead of framing the treaty as merely a mechanism to improve recycling or waste management.
Plastic Pollution Coalition contributed to the discourse by raising awareness prior to and during INC-5, via film screenings, panel discussions, and in sharing literature on climate (Korean version) and health (Korean version).
Environmental youth activist from Indonesia and River Warriors founder, Aeshnina Azzahra Aqilani, powerfully voiced the harm of microplastics to children and babies in the final plenary.
“I have brought this baby in a plastic jar to illustrate that even mother’s wombs are poisoned with microplastics. The safest place for humans is not safe anymore. There is nowhere to escape.”
–Aeshnina Azzahra Aqilani, Founder, River Warriors
In a closing statement at the final plenary, the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Plastics condemned the systemic marginalization at INC-5, highlighting their exclusion from negotiating rooms.
“This is not just an oversight; it is a deliberate dismissal of our sovereignty, our rights, and our leadership. Decisions are being made about our lands, waters, knowledge, and futures without us at the table. Indigenous Peoples are not stakeholders. We are rights holders and knowledge holders, and critical partners in the fight against plastic pollution.”
Plastic Pollution Coalition on the Ground
Plastic Pollution Coalition, Global Strategic Communications Council, and Uproot Plastics Coalition co-hosted three screenings of Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics. The film investigates our relationship with plastic and tracks the harms of microplastics to human health. The events culminated with compelling panel conversations, moderated by Dianna Cohen (PPC).
On the first day of INC-5, PPC re-launched a video in collaboration with Break Free From Plastic, of Actor and PPC Notable Member, Jeff Bridges, with Korean subtitles, calling out the lifetime opportunity for real solutions that will end the plastics age once and for all.
This year, through our petition to the U.S. Government, PPC intensified our advocacy, urging the U.S. delegation to adopt greater ambition. Gearing up for INC-5, PPC held a webinar to spur momentum for finalizing a strong treaty from the perspectives of frontline activism, policy, art, science, and law.
Despite calls to demonstrate global leadership, the U.S. maintained a weak stance at INC-5, emphasizing “flexibility” that enables countries to maintain business as usual. This shift included backtracking on earlier support for production caps, leaving many allies disillusioned and questioning U.S. commitment to meaningful action. This U.S. position aligns with the weaker, primarily downstream, and voluntary positions taken in recent federal policy, like the finalized EPA National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution. However, while the U.S. has not yet committed to an ambitious treaty, a strong global agreement would impact global market dynamics, potentially affecting U.S. exports of plastic products or waste as well as the international activities of U.S. companies.
Hannah Testa, PPC Youth Ambassador, played a key role in raising awareness of the treaty and updates at INC-5 by using social media to amplify the voices of other young advocates on the ground.
Plastic Pollution Coalition led a panel, “Monitoring Progress: Business and Policy Solutions following the UN Plastic Treaty,” in the Rethinking Plastic Life event space hosted by South Korea, spotlighting business and policy solutions needed to stop plastic pollution and its toxic impacts. The conversation featured the Global Plastic Laws database—a critical resource tracking plastic legislation across the world, which will support monitoring implementation of the treaty by countries in years to come once a treaty is finalized. The panel also spotlighted the Champions of Change initiative and solutions to scale by businesses across the globe. The panel, moderated by Madison Dennis (PPC Project Manager), included Justine Maillot, BFFP; Jane Muncke, Food Packaging Forum; Emma Priestland, BFFP; Hiroaki Odachi, Greenpeace Japan; and Dagny Tucker, Perpetual.
A screening of a short version of Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy (a top film on Netflix during INC-5) was followed by a panel moderated by Dianna Cohen (PPC). The Buy Now! film delves into the deceptive strategies employed by some of the world’s largest corporations to perpetuate plastic consumption and pollution. PPC is leading a petition aligned with the film, urging big brands to take responsibility for their waste and demanding an end to business practices that trash the planet.
Take Action
for “Courage, Not Compromise.” Photo by UNEP.
INC-5.2 will take place in 2025, at a time and place yet to be determined. Leading up to this critical moment, we anticipate heightened industry interference and efforts from low-ambition countries to stall progress. However, Busan showed that a growing coalition of countries are willing to be courageous and tell the world to get on board with a strong treaty or to step aside. The energy and momentum are building to deliver a historic, global agreement.
We remain steadfast with our allies in pursuing an end to the plastic crisis. You can make a difference by signing our petition urging the U.S. Government to join global leaders committed to real solutions. The path forward is clear: to end plastic pollution, the world must limit plastic production. Tell the U.S. to stop being the world’s worst plastic polluter and to step up to support meaningful change.
Sign up for the upcoming PPC webinar: Policy Matters: Tracking Plastic Laws After Global Treaty Negotiations on December 12, where legislative, advocacy, and media experts will discuss the UN Plastic Treaty. As we work towards reaching a global deal, monitoring progress and tracking plastic policy across all levels through the Global Plastic Laws database and resource center will be essential to advancing policy solutions addressing plastic pollution.
