The World Wanted a Plastics Pollution Treaty, but the U.S. Had Other Plans

What happened in Geneva this month bodes ill for future global environmental agreements.

Ecuadorian ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso, chairman of the negotiations on a global plastics treaty, looks on with members of his office prior to the opening of a plenary assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, on Aug. 15. September 2, 2025, 12:01 AM Comment icon View Comments ( )

In Geneva earlier this month, the world tried for a sixth time to negotiate a plastics treaty, and for a sixth time, it failed. Without a binding international framework, the production and consumption of plastics and associated waste generation and pollution are set to continue rising. This will exacerbate risks to human health, biodiversity,

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