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The clock is ticking in Geneva, where less than a week remains to negotiate a United Nations (UN) Plastics Treaty. Experts worldwide agree that our best chance to end the plastic pollution crisis is to adopt a strong, legally binding treaty that limits plastic production, bans toxic chemicals, and phases out the most problematic plastics. But the U.S.—one of the world’s top plastic producers and polluters—is opposing these necessary measures and science-backed solutions.

In fact, the U.S. is going so far as to urge other nations to reject key upstream solutions, despite the UN mandate for the treaty to address plastic pollution across the full plastic life cycle. As talks began in Geneva, the Trump Administration reportedly circulated a memo describing its refusal to support what it calls “impractical” caps on plastic production and bans or restrictions on plastic additives and products. This, despite the serious and growing global human health and environmental costs of plastics. Virtually everywhere we look—from the environment to our bodies—we find plastic pollution.

This treaty matters because it offers the global opportunity to commit to ending the toxic impacts of plastic on our health, wildlife, and planet—backed by the mechanisms needed to make it happen.

The World is Speaking. The U.S. Isn’t Listening

The U.S. position is out of step with major stakeholders—from scientists and governments to businesses and voters. More than 100 countries support a global cap on plastic production, and over 400 businesses—from local brands to multinationals—have signed onto Champions of Change, an initiative led by Greenpeace, Plastic Pollution Coalition, and Break Free From Plastic calling for a production cap and an end to single-use plastics. And 81% of U.S. voters support reducing plastic production too.

In a recent letter to Secretary of State Mark Rubio, Senators Merkley and Whitehouse, along with Representative Huffman, urged the U.S. to join the ambitious majority of countries or step aside. As the lawmakers note, “domestic laws are failing to protect Americans, particularly frontline communities,” which bear the brunt of exposure to toxic chemicals and emissions from plastic production, disposal, and pollution along plastic’s life cycle.

A Price Tag Over $1.5 Trillion

Plastics are costly to our health, economy, and country. A global group of health experts recently determined that “plastics cause disease and death from infancy to old age and are responsible for health-related economic losses exceeding US $1.5 trillion annually.” Toxic chemicals from plastics contributed $250 billion in additional U.S. healthcare costs in 2018 alone, and have been linked to serious health issues, including cancer, obesity, infertility, neurodevelopmental problems, and more.

But the price we pay for plastic pollution isn’t just financial—its personal, environmental, and generational. Microplastics and toxic plastic chemicals now pollute our air, water, soil, food, and bodies—from our blood and brains to ovaries and testes; it contaminates the deepest parts of the ocean and highest mountain peaks. And we are all affected. Wildlife and ecosystems critical for a healthy planet are threatened by plastic ingestion, entanglement, exposure, and detrimental habitat changes—all serious problems compounded further by plastic’s role in fueling climate change.

That’s why in addition to a plastic production cap, an effective global treaty must regulate plastic’s more than 16,000 additives, at least 4,200 of which are known to be hazardous to human health. Yet, the U.S. continues to resist these safeguards, even as 130 countries support strong global management of plastic products and chemicals in plastic.

U.S. Backs the Fossil Fuel Industry Over People

*Benjamin Von Wong – ©️Von Wong Productions 2025 – Global Plastics Treaty INC 5.2 – The Thinker’s Burden / Le Fardeau du Penseur*

Outside the UN, artist Ben Von Wong’s installation “The Thinker’s Burden” depicts a person seated atop Mother Earth, cradling a baby, and surrounded by plastic pollution, capturing the burden plastics place on future generations, and why we need world leaders to negotiate an agreement that best protects us from its toxic impacts.

Yet the U.S. has historically enabled production of cheap plastics by subsidizing the fossil fuel industry, which fuels plastic production, with more than 98% of plastics today made from gas, oil, or coal. The Trump Administration is actively deregulating these industries, and many states have passed pro-fossil fuel and pro-plastics policies, with some local governments welcoming industrial fossil fuel and plastics development at the expense of their constituents’ health and lives.

That influence is playing out in real time. A record 234 fossil fuel and chemical lobbyists are in Geneva to exert their influence on the treaty talks. The U.S. is backing the financial interests of plastic polluters over the needs of people, and countering global civil society, governmental, and scientific consensus. In doing so, the Trump Administration is actively betraying its stated commitment to improve the health of US-Americans and provide “really clean water and really clean air.”

Take Action

The U.S. must stop siding with polluters and start protecting people. The world is watching.

Let’s make the resumed fifth round of negotiations (INC-5.2) a turning point. It’s time to put the interests of people and the planet at the heart of the talks in Geneva. Tell the U.S. to get on board with a strong plastics treaty, and urge world leaders to hold the line on ambition—with or without U.S. backing. Let diplomats and negotiators hear us all loud and clear: it’s time to end the plastic pollution crisis.

Sign the petition to the U.S. Government. Outside the U.S.? Sign the petition to World Leaders.

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Update: The U.S. reportedly shifted its position in mid-November, backtracking from its stance of pushing for a cap on plastic production we reported in August. However as of December 2, 2024, with INC-5 talks complete, a binding Global Plastics Treaty could not be fully reached. The final result of the treaty remains to be seen as negotiations will extend into INC-5.2 and INC-6, set to take place sometime next year. We’re still hopeful that the U.S. can take a strong stance on capping plastic production in the next round of negotiations.

Plastic Pollution Coalition (PPC) celebrates a big win as the U.S. reportedly has shifted position to support a global plastic production reduction target in the UN Plastics Treaty currently being negotiated. Although the announcement has yet to come publicly and directly from the Administration, if true it is a major shift from the U.S. Government’s previous weak approach of leaving decisions about plastic production up to each UN Member State, a position in line with the interests of the interconnected fossil fuel, petrochemical, and plastics industries that have caused the plastic pollution crisis. This stance brings the U.S. closer in alignment with the 66 other countries that form the High Ambition Coalition, a group the U.S. has yet to join and which PPC nominated for The Earthshot Prize earlier this year.

PPC has been advocating directly for this shift for more than a year. In April, PPC Notable member Jeff Bridges joined in urging world leaders to create a strong treaty—one that limits production and supports communities.

This news is really something to celebrate. Science and common sense tell us that to solve plastic pollution, we need to turn off the tap of plastic production. Industry is already producing more plastic than the world can handle, and it is poisoning people and the planet; we simply cannot produce more. We are grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for acknowledging this truth and shifting position to support a reduction in plastic production, and we look forward to seeing their leadership in action in Busan this November at the next and final UN Plastics Treaty negotiation.

— Jen Fela, Vice President, Programs & Communications, Plastic Pollution Coalition

Capping Production Will Save Lives

PPC and our allies in the Break Free From Plastic movement have advocated strongly that world leaders need to “turn off the tap” on production of plastics and its fossil fuel ingredients and toxic additive chemicals as part of an effective UN Plastics Treaty. The U.S. is the world’s largest plastic polluter, and has been historically friendly to the fossil fuel, petrochemical, and plastics industries. PPC has led a petition to the U.S. Government calling on leaders to take a strong stance on the UN Plastics Treaty, signaling to other countries it is ready to make a change to finally put people and the planet over profits. With the treaty, world leaders now have a momentous opportunity to stop plastics, toxic chemicals, and fossil fuels at the source; listen to and support frontline communities facing the worst impacts of pollution and injustice; mitigate the climate crisis; and more.

Fenceline community members have sacrificed countless hours away from their beloved homes to push for a treaty that alleviates the scourge of plastic and all its harm from extraction to production in areas such as Louisiana’s Cancer Alley. The news of the United States’ ambitious position shift demonstrates that our sacrifice was not made in vain and serves as much-needed encouragement as we continue our work in the plastics treaty space. Make no doubt it – capping plastic production will save lives, especially the lives of frontline community members who have carried the weight of plastic for much too long. Now is the time to turn away from false solutions such as recycling and center non-plastic reuse solutions to benefit fenceline communities and the world.

— Jo Banner, Co-Founder and Co-Director of The Descendants Project

The systemic changes needed to shift away from single-use plastics are highly unlikely to occur if they rely solely on voluntary efforts from the industries and consumer goods companies that depend on them. The news that the U.S. Government will support reduction of plastic production and the phase out of toxic chemicals in the Global Plastics Treaty will pave the way for a just transition to non-toxic, affordable and equitable reuse and refill systems. We will continue to hold the U.S. Government accountable to make sure these promises become part of a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty.

— Alejandra Warren, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Plastic Free Future

Supporting Sustainable Businesses

Dozens of PPC Business Members have signed a letter to the U.S. Government calling for support of real plastic-free reuse, refill, repair, share, and regenerative solutions, which was delivered to the U.S. delegation at INC-2 and INC-4. Now, PPC is proud to partner with Break Free From Plastic and Greenpeace on the Champions of Change initiative — a group of progressive and ambitious businesses from around the world that aim to operate without contributing to the plastic crisis.

This news feels like the meaningful progress we have been pushing for, thanks to the U.S. delegation and negotiators. And now the real work starts. We need the U.S. to share more details around support for legally binding global measures to significantly reduce plastic production, and show global leadership over the next 3 months to achieve a meaningful outcome in Busan. This is the starting point for an honest conversation about what is actually required to protect people and the planet from plastic.

— Graham Forbes, Global Plastics Project Lead, Greenpeace USA

Looking for Action to Follow Words

This welcome news comes just weeks after the White House released a new strategy for U.S. Federal Government action on plastic pollution. The plan is the Biden-Harris Administration’s most comprehensive to date, finally acknowledging key truths about the planetary crisis that is plastic pollution—including that “over 90% of plastic is derived from fossil fuels,” the need for a “full lifecycle approach” to action, and impacts on Indigenous and other frontline communities. The plan’s broader language marks considerable progress over the government’s past approaches to plastic pollution, and reflects the language of Plastic Pollution Coalition and its allies in the Break Free From Plastic movement.

However, the Federal plan contained critical shortcomings, such as its focus on ineffective voluntary demand-side measures aimed at reducing plastic consumption instead of an effective mandatory reduction in plastic production. If the U.S. truly has changed course to focus on reducing plastic production, it would signal to the world that it is actually serious about addressing plastic at the source—an essential step in reducing plastic pollution.

I’m cautiously optimistic after hearing that the U.S. has come around to backing production cuts in the global plastics treaty. Making less plastic is the number one way to protect people and the planet from this stuff, which harms us at every stage of its existence. I’m so glad our government is publicly standing up for production cuts and less plastic consumption. I look forward to seeing U.S. delegates fight for these positions at the next plastics treaty negotiations in South Korea.

— Julie Teel Simmonds, Senior Counsel, Center for Biological Diversity

CIEL now calls upon the United States Government to publicly articulate its support for these measures, particularly on reducing plastic production and creating global lists of chemicals for phase out. We need to see the United States have the courage to make public commitments, on the record, and take actions that demonstrate that these promises are more than just rhetoric.

— Rachel Radvany, Environmental Health Campaigner at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)

Take Action

*Jen Fela (Plastic Pollution Coalition) delivers petition to U.S. delegation at INC-2 in Paris, France, May 2023.*

With the final negotiating session of the UN Plastics Treaty scheduled to begin in November, time is running out to finalize a strong global agreement to end plastic pollution. With the U.S. joining the fold of countries calling for a cap on production, there is renewed hope for stopping plastic at the source and keeping this critical issue on the table. Please help us continue to apply pressure on the U.S. Government and world leaders as we call for a UN Plastics Treaty that centers the health of people and the planet—not the interests of polluters—by turning off the plastics tap and supporting real solutions.

Sign the U.S. Petition

Sign the Global Petition

PPC will also host a webinar on September 24 for a lively discussion about whether leaders will rise to the occasion to stem the tide of plastic pollution by crafting an agreement that is strong and ambitious. Join the conversation as we tackle this and other pressing questions from the perspectives of frontline activism, policy, art, science, and law.

It’s Climate Week in New York City, and thousands of people have come together to highlight the connections between plastics, fossil fuels, and the climate crisis. With hundreds of events planned around the United Nations (UN) General Assembly’s annual meeting on pressing global issues, it’s a busy week of climate-focused discussions and actions around NYC.

The week kicked off Sunday with the March to End Fossil Fuels, which was attended by at least a n estimated 50,000 to 75,000 people, including Plastic Pollution Coalition Members, Youth Ambassadors, Staff, Notables, and other allies. At the March, groups and individuals mobilized to call on the U.S. and other governments, as well as corporations, investors, and other entities to stop prioritizing fossil fuel and plastic industry profits over people and the planet.

Understanding the Connections

*Jackie Nuñez, Plastic Pollution Coalition Advocacy and Engagement Manager, attends the 2023 March to End Fossil Fuels in NYC on September 17, 2023.*

Identifying—and acting on—the connections is important: As pollutants build up in the environment and our bodies, and the planet continues to warm, it is growing increasingly urgent to address the plastic pollution and the climate crises together.

The facts are that:

Ninety-nine percent of all plastics are made from petrochemicals derived from fossil fuels—gas, oil, and coal. Plastics help drive the climate crisis.
Despite the urgent need to cut our reliance on fossil fuels, the plastics and petrochemical industries plan to triple plastics production by 2060—threatening our chances of keeping global temperature rise below the critical 1.5-degree Celsius threshold.
By 2050, plastic production and disposal could generate greenhouse-gas emissions equivalent to 615 coal plants annually and use up to 13% of Earth’s remaining carbon budget.
Microplastics and nanoplastics may be interfering with the ocean’s ability to absorb and sequester carbon, Earth’s biggest natural carbon sink.
Plastic pollution contributes to nine of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 3, 6, 9, 11–15, and 17. Meeting these SDGs can support building a healthier, more just, and more sustainable world for all people.

Scientists, Indigenous knowledge holders, and other experts have emphasized that plastic pollution must be stopped at its source. This means implementing enforceable regulations that require industries dealing in fossil fuels, petrochemicals, and plastics to turn off their taps. A major (at least 75%) reduction of plastics production will help us avert the worst outcomes of the climate crisis, which has already caused significant and irreversible damage to Earth and human communities.

Currently, more than 40 0 million metric tons of new plastic are produced globally each year, and that number is increasing year after year. More than 10 billion metric tons of plastic have been produced globally to date, and plastic production has increased by more than 18,300 percent in the last 65 years.

UN Plastics Treaty “Zero Draft” is Encouraging—But Misses the Mark on Plastics’ Climate Connections

The UN Environment Programme, which is Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution, released a Zero Draft for a UN Plastics Treaty on September 4, 2023. The UN’s Zero Draft importantly lays out the earliest structure and content for a Plastics Treaty to be shaped during the next three negotiating sessions, which are set to wrap up at the end of 2024, when a Treaty should be agreed. Activists and advocates working to end plastic pollution and protect human and environmental health say the UN Plastics Treaty “Zero Draft” is encouraging—but misses the mark on plastics’ climate connections and other concerns.

The clear connection between plastics, fossil fuels, and the climate crisis which threaten human and planetary health is one of the biggest critical components now lacking from the Zero Draft. This connection must be acknowledged in the UN Plastic Treaty, accompanied by a plan for addressing it. As mentioned earlier, solving the plastic pollution and climate crises can help the UN meet its SDGs.

The UN Plastics Treaty must focus on stopping plastic pollution at the source by seriously curbing fossil fuel and plastic production. It cannot leave opportunities for industry interests to continue driving the climate crisis and harming people and the planet.
— Jen Fela, Vice President, Programs & Communications, Plastic Pollution Coalition

With the third Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-3) upcoming this November in Nairobi, Kenya, where parties will negotiate the Zero Draft, it’s important to understand what the document currently does and does not cover, what concerns need to be addressed, and why plastics and climate must be identified as urgent, interlinked planetary crises.

Understanding the Zero Draft

In May 2023, the UN outlined its suggested roadmap forward in drafting a Plastics Treaty in its May 2023 “Turning Off the Tap” report. Unfortunately, the low-ambition report focuses on “turning off the tap” in name only, as it problematically centers business-friendly false solutions allowing for plastic production to continue to ramp up. Instead of prioritizing the health of people and the planet by committing to ending plastic production, it continues to support profiting the harmful fossil fuel and plastics industries.

The Zero Draft does importantly identify a reduction of plastic production as a necessary aspect of the treaty. And it offers a few options for cutting back production, either by requiring countries to set mandatory reduction levels or by setting one global reduction target. Targeted reduction levels have not been established, but they could potentially be achieved by banning specific, easily avoided single-use plastic items and intentionally added microplastics (like microbeads), eliminating subsidies for producing plastic, and/or tapping into market-based options, such as a “plastic tax” that would disincentivize plastic production and use.

Notably, the Zero Draft proposes the establishment of targets for “reuse, repair, repurposing, and refurbishment” of plastic products. While these tenets are necessary for minimizing wastefulness, it’s important that systems incentivize and support these tenets are built plastic-free. All plastic products shed tiny plastic particles that pollute the Earth, wildlife, plants, and our bodies and contain toxic chemicals that are linked to serious health impacts like cancer, immune system problems, and fertility and reproductive issues. Plastic-free materials, while they do still affect people and the planet, are less toxic and are far more reusable than plastics—reducing their total impacts. Overall, we need to build systems that meet local needs and support us having healthy lives and environments. Consumerism-based societies must consume far less.

Reflecting the interests of industries and industry representatives’ outsized presence at the treaty negotiations, recycling—including harmful “advanced recycling,” cleanup, and waste management are a focus of the Zero Draft. However, plastic is not designed to be recycled, and recycling plastic only magnifies and transfers toxic chemicals. It’s been widely recognized that such “downstream” solutions are not sufficient—and in fact they are a form of industry greenwashing that problematically puts the onus for dealing with plastic pollution on the public and perpetuates plastic production while delaying real solutions. The draft also fails address and attempt to rectify the longstanding injustices, pollution, and harm caused by the fossil fuel and plastic industries to people and the planet.

With an influential first step by recognizing in the zero draft the consideration of children and youth—the largest world population and one of the rights-holders group of the treaty process—the negotiating parties have now the power to define the treaty’s effectiveness to current and future generations. Is up to them to determine whether we will have a strong treaty, taking into consideration an intergenerational equity approach with respect to human rights, or whether the process will result in a weak text full of loopholes that will allow to perpetuate a compromised future with irreversible damage to human health, our wildlife and our ecosystem.
— Rafael Eudes, Zero Waste Alliance Brazil, BFFP Youth Ambassador (Brazil)

We must connect plastics, fossil fuels, and the climate crisis in order to move forward with solutions that can allow us to secure a livable future on Earth. The fossil fuel and plastic industries—and those who have supported and invested in these industries—must be held accountable for the harm they have caused. These industries are best replaced by local plastic-free systems of reuse, refill, repair, share, and regeneration. These new, healthier systems must be built in a just, equitable manner. The Earth must be remediated, and communities protected from pollution and injustice.

Take Action

During the second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-2), which wrapped up in Paris, France, in June 2023, negotiators mandated creation of a Zero Draft, the earliest iterations of a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution. As parties prepare to meet in Nairobi, Kenya, in November, it’s important to keep pushing for key concerns to be addressed, and for the UN Plastics Treaty to meet the needs of people and the planet. The Treaty is expected to be finalized by the end of 2024, and adopted in 2025.

Now is the time to push parties to take a strong stance on UN Plastics Treaty negotiations.

Tell the U.S. Government: Take a Stronger Stance on the Global Plastics Treaty

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Tell World Leaders We Need a Strong Global Plastics Treaty

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