France’s “wake up call” for an ambitious global plastic pollution treaty is welcome but it can only be realised by moving beyond consensus

Call from more than 90 countries reaffirming their ambition to end plastic pollution is a welcome signal of global cooperation, but still “the bare minimum” of what is needed if the world is to see a treaty fit for such a purpose.

At the third UN Ocean Conference, co-host France, issued a “wake up call” to rally countries in support of a legally binding global plastic pollution treaty intended to put an end to one of modern civilisation’s most enduring crises. This valiant effort to inject momentum into the treaty process comes ahead of INC-5.2 -  the sixth round of negotiations for a global plastic pollution treaty slated for August - and includes signatories from all regions, including Cambodia, Georgia, Germany, Australia, Ghana, Tuvalu and UNOC co-host Costa Rica. 

“The joint statement, led by France, sends a clear signal - countries worldwide can and must work together to end the plastic crisis. But, let’s be clear: What is outlined here is a good start but it is the bare minimum to effectively tackle plastic pollution. A treaty fit for purpose must go beyond vague aspirations and include a suite of specific, binding measures, including global bans on the most harmful plastics and chemicals, means to support implementation and a mechanism to strengthen them over time,” said Efraim Gomez, Global Director for Policy Impact at WWF International.

“With less than two months until INC-5.2, governments must understand that this vision can and will not be realised through consensus. They must therefore prepare to use all the necessary tools to overcome further delays and deliver the treaty they promised. They have the vision, they have the support and they have the tools to forge an effective treaty. Now they must deliver. We are already in overtime, and every day of delay adds another 30,000 tonnes of plastic to our oceans.”

From 5-14 August, countries will return to the negotiating table to once again reach an agreement on a global plastic pollution treaty. Negotiations failed to reach the scheduled conclusion in December last year.

The negotiations failed as several oil-producing countries continued to abuse treaty rules aimed at achieving consensus by refusing to bridge divisions, trying to once again narrow the scope of the treaty on waste management rather than reducing plastic production. Efforts to achieve consensus have been exhausted and countries looking to forge a treaty in their shared vision must use all procedural tools, such as voting, at INC-5.2 to do so. 

Tomorrow (Wednesday, 11 June 2025), WWF and the Environmental Investigation Agency will present a briefing detailing insights on key ingredients and pathways to creating a new global binding treaty with effective, targeted and actionable measures that can rein in and regulate global plastic production and consumption.

ENDS

Stakeholder and Rightsholder Perspectives on an Ambitious Plastics Treaty
Location: Blue Panda Boat, Blue Zone, UNOC
Time: 11th June, 4pm

Background: Following the launch of the ‘Nice Wake Up Call’’ Declaration on behalf of more than 90 countries, WWF and Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) are hosting a briefing event to  discuss stakeholder and rightsholder perspectives ahead of the sixth round of negotiations for a new global plastic pollution treaty. 

With the declaration sending a clear political signal about growing momentum in the negotiations, the panel will provide insights from civil society, rightsholders, business, science and government on the key ingredients for a new binding global instrument capable of ending plastic pollution and protecting the environment, health and rights into the future. 

Speakers:

Christina Dixon, moderator, Environmental Investigation Agency.

• Bethany Carney Almroth, Professor of Ecotoxicology at the University of Gothenburg, and co-coordinator of the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty
• Frankie Orana, Executive Director, Society of Native Nations
• Jodie Roussell, Global Public Affairs Lead - Packaging & Sustainability, Nestlé
• Zaynab Sadan, Global Plastics Policy Lead, WWF 
• Dr Michael Sivendra, Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Fiji 
• John Hocevar, Oceans Campaign Director, Greenpeace USA

Please be advised that space aboard the Blue Panda is strictly limited and participants must be registered in advance for security purposes. Please contact Samuel Davies at sdavies@wwfint.org to register participation. 

Joint-CSO reactive statement
The Civil Society and Rightsholders Coalition for a Plastics Treaty, for which WWF is a member, have launched a reactive statement in response to the NICE Declaration. Following the press conference in Nice, the statement can be found here.