Ahead of critical global plastic treaty negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland from August 5-14, 2025, Asia Pacific policy experts and civil society organizations are emphasizing the region's pivotal role in addressing plastic production and pollution. A recent briefing by Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) highlighted the diverse positions and negotiation dynamics within the Asia Pacific, a region at the epicenter of both plastic production and its detrimental impacts.
The upcoming negotiations, referred to as INC-5.2 (the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee), will determine global standards for plastic production, waste management, and industry accountability. Discussions are expected to revolve around how countries frame their priorities concerning economic development, environmental protection, and regional and international cooperation.
The Asia Pacific region presents a complex landscape in the global plastic treaty negotiations due to its diverse economies and environmental challenges. Observers note that uniting Asian countries on desired outcomes for the treaty will be difficult. The region encompasses a wide range of countries, from Middle Eastern nations with significant oil and petrochemical industries to Southeast Asian countries facing rapid growth in their petrochemical sectors, as well as nations heavily impacted by plastic waste.
Several key challenges have been identified ahead of the negotiations. These include procedural issues affecting civil society access, potential delaying tactics, the risk of watered-down commitments favoring waste management over production caps, and industry influence promoting circular economy narratives as opposed to substantive pollution reduction. Experts are urging journalists to consider a human rights-centric, fossil-fuel-free development model for the Asia Pacific in their coverage of the treaty.
A significant threat to the treaty's effectiveness lies in the possibility of chemical and plastic-producing countries challenging its scope to address the full plastics lifecycle. Such challenges could lead to the removal of obligations for primary plastic polymer production reduction and the regulation of chemicals of concern from the final agreement. The most significant risk is that negotiations could result in a framework convention with voluntary measures rather than binding commitments.
Some countries, particularly those with large oil and petrochemical industries, advocate for the treaty to focus on improving downstream waste management and recycling. This "Like-Minded Group" reportedly opposes binding commitments to reduce or cap plastic production, arguing that such measures would threaten their economies. Conversely, countries like the Philippines and Thailand are pushing for legally binding limits on all stages of plastics production and stronger action on the chemicals used in plastics.
Despite these divisions, there are signs of potential shifts in positions. China, responsible for a significant portion of global plastic materials production, has shown a willingness to engage in discussions and consider certain regulatory mechanisms for polymers, provided they align with "pragmatic and balanced" approaches.
As the negotiations approach, the focus is on whether countries will prioritize the environment and human well-being over the interests of the plastics and petrochemical industries. There is concern that pressure to reach a consensus could lead to compromises on stronger provisions, with critical decisions on production reduction measures being deferred to future processes.
Ultimately, the success of the global plastic treaty hinges on the willingness of nations, particularly those in the Asia Pacific region, to embrace ambitious and binding commitments that address the entire lifecycle of plastics, from production to disposal.
