“Zero cannot help but express its disappointment with the inability to reach a broad consensus on the need to reduce the negative impacts of plastic pollution, even in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence highlighting the urgency to act,” the organization stated in a communiqué.
While acknowledging that it was “very unlikely” an agreement would be reached in this round, the association emphasizes that “this failure should not be viewed as the end of the road.” According to Zero, “now is the time for the more ambitious countries, which fought until the last minute for an effective treaty to reduce plastic pollution, to unite and advance on their own.”
The organization believes it would be unacceptable to approve a text lacking concrete measures and accuses the fossil industry of influencing the process. “More important than having everyone involved is not to halt the process and not yield to approving a text that, bringing nothing new, would serve as a smokescreen to ensure the fossil industry could maintain its business,” it warned.
The treaty negotiations began in 2022, involving 175 countries, yet progress has been minimal. According to Zero, “the same arguments have been used for over two years, without any convergence in sight.”
In this context, the association calls on more than 120 countries that have shown commitment to adopting a legally binding and robust agreement—including Colombia, Panama, Fiji, the United Kingdom, and the European Union—to maintain their resolve.
The organization also requests that these states “sustain their commitment to defending science-based measures and [find] new ways of collaboration and joint work to advance the issue.”
While no international progress is made, Zero reminds that the fight against plastic pollution will continue through other means. “The communities most directly affected by the significant impacts of plastic pollution will continue to challenge—judicially included—harmful facilities and practices, such as petrochemical production and expansion, incineration, and waste colonialism,” it states.
