Pakistan’s Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Minister Dr Musadik Malik called for equitable access to green financing and other resources for developing nations at a meeting in Geneva on Friday.
After intense and chaotic negotiations stretching beyond deadlines, the UN talks in Geneva aimed at establishing a global treaty to curb plastic pollution ended without a deal. The failure stemmed mainly from irreconcilable differences between over 100 countries calling for measures to curb plastic production and oil-producing nations opposing such restrictions. The talks, involving 184 countries, collapsed amidst criticism of the negotiation process and growing frustration over fossil fuel interests blocking progress.
Pakistan stood out at the summit, with its Federal Climate Change Minister Dr. Musadik Malik advocating for equitable green financing and resources for developing countries most impacted by plastic pollution and climate change. He pushed for a fair global plastics treaty that prioritizes support for vulnerable nations and proposed creating a global plastic credits marketplace to enhance financial mechanisms.
“Pakistan led a regional dialogue with Bangladesh, Egypt, Tajikistan, Malaysia, and Sudan for an interactive briefing,” according to a statement posted by Malik’s team on X.
“Minister Musadik called for a fair Global Plastics Treaty and equitable green financing, so support reaches nations most impacted by pollution and climate challenges,” the statement added.
Despite no deal, key voices at the summit declared “no treaty is better than a bad treaty” and called for a reformed negotiation process. The collapse highlights the urgent need for renewed efforts to address the plastic crisis through effective measures that balance environmental sustainability with economic fairness.
The UN Environment Programme will convene future sessions to find a path forward, but the current impasse leaves the world without a legally binding global framework to stem the mounting plastic pollution threatening ecosystems and public health. Pakistan’s message on fairness and equity remains a crucial beacon amid stalled diplomacy.
Global UN Talks on Plastic Pollution Fail to Reach Agreement in Geneva
The plastic pollution talks in Geneva are part of United Nations negotiations aimed at creating the world’s first legally binding treaty to tackle the global crisis of plastic pollution. Delegates from around 180 countries meet to finalize a comprehensive agreement addressing the entire lifecycle of plastics—from production and consumption to waste management and pollution control. The goal is to establish unified global measures to stop and reverse the growing plastic pollution problem, which currently sees over 400 million tons of new plastic produced annually, with projections to increase significantly by 2040.
Key negotiation points include whether the treaty should limit plastic production or focus primarily on waste management and recycling. Many countries advocate for capping plastic production and regulating toxic chemicals in plastics, while major oil-producing nations and the plastics industry oppose production limits, favoring measures centered on improved waste management.
The talks face significant challenges due to these conflicting interests, resulting in difficult negotiations and, as of August 2025, no finalized agreement. The talks have been extended multiple times without consensus, leaving the treaty’s scope and enforceability in question. The process highlights the complexity of balancing environmental protection, economic considerations, and the interests of various countries and industries.
The Geneva talks are a crucial step in the global effort to address plastic pollution, but continued negotiations and compromise will be necessary to achieve a binding treaty that effectively mitigates plastic pollution worldwide. They also underscore the urgency of mobilizing international cooperation to tackle one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.