Urgent Crisis Demands Prompt Intervention
Global plastic production has soared from 2 million tonnes in 1950 to a staggering 436 million tonnes in 2023, but only 9% of this plastic is recycled[1]. This alarming statistic, coupled with the contamination of ecosystems and human organs by microplastics and nanoplastics, has led scientists to estimate that the world is in the midst of a "plastic crisis," with costs to human health estimated at $1,500 billion per year globally[2].
The current negotiations for an international treaty limiting plastic production, held in Geneva, Switzerland, have ended without reaching an agreement. The talks during the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) from August 4 to 14, 2025, were intended to finalize a legally binding global treaty addressing the full life cycle of plastics from design to disposal[3]. However, no deal was struck and negotiations are expected to resume next year.
A major cause of the deadlock is strong resistance from a bloc of countries with significant petrochemical industries and oil production interests. These countries have opposed ambitious measures to cut plastic production, instead advocating for less stringent approaches focused on improved design, recycling, and reuse without limits on plastic production or hazardous chemicals in plastics[4]. This opposition has been described as a decisive factor preventing the treaty from including enforceable rules to reduce plastic production and pollution, with many environmental advocates condemning the current draft as too weak and insufficient[4].
The treaty aims to establish a legally binding agreement on plastic production and a treaty establishing the level of recycling to be achieved[5]. The negotiations are under the auspices of the United Nations and are expected to conclude by August 14. However, the influence of oil-producing countries and the petrochemical industry has cast a shadow over the negotiations, with more than 200 lobbyists directly linked to the petrochemical industry trying to sway the course of the talks[4].
Some oil-producing countries, including Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, are reluctant to sign a treaty that would slow down their exploitation of plastic[4]. The general director of Publications BLD, which publishes "Les Débrouillards" among other magazines, passed away on Sunday, leaving a void in the French-speaking world of journalism.
Meanwhile, beyond the result of the by-election in Arthabaska-L'Érable, other questions arise as the world grapples with the plastic crisis. The health risks associated with plastic pollution are particularly high for fetuses, infants, and children, making the need for a comprehensive solution to the plastic crisis more urgent than ever.
References:
[1] United Nations Environment Programme (2023). Global Plastics Report 2023. Retrieved from https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/31739/Global_Plastics_Report_2023_WEB_version.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
[2] World Health Organization (2025). The Impact of Plastic Pollution on Human Health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/plastic-pollution
[3] United Nations Environment Programme (2025). Fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) on plastic pollution. Retrieved from https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/headline/fifth-session-of-the-intergovernmental-negotiating-committee-inc-52-on-plastic-pollution
[4] Greenpeace (2025). The Plastic Treaty: A Step in the Right Direction, but Not Enough. Retrieved from https://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/The-Plastic-Treaty-A-step-in-the-right-direction-but-not-enough/
[5] United Nations Environment Programme (2025). Negotiations for a Legally Binding Global Plastics Treaty. Retrieved from https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/headline/negotiations-for-a-legally-binding-global-plastics-treaty
- The plastic crisis, characterized by high costs to human health and environmental pollution, has led to negotiations for a legally binding global treaty under the auspices of the United Nations, aiming to establish regulations on plastic production and recycling rates.
- Despite the urgency and the efforts made by scientists and environmental advocates for a comprehensive solution, negotiations for this treaty have been stalled due to strong resistance from some oil-producing countries with significant economic interests in petrochemical industries and plastic production.
- Climate change, health-and-wellness, especially for fetuses, infants, and children, and general news surrounding the plastic crisis are pressing concerns that extend beyond the outcome of specific political events or elections.
- Policies and legislation pertaining to environmental science, such as the proposed global treaty on plastic production, are crucial in addressing issues like science-related medical conditions (microplastics and nanoplastics in human organs) and the impact on the environment.
