GENEVA — Governments negotiating what could become the world's first legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution have elected Ambassador Julio Cordano of Chile to lead the next phase of negotiations, as international efforts intensify to address one of the planet's fastest-growing environmental crises.
The election took place during the resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), the UN-led process tasked with developing an international agreement to combat plastic pollution, including waste that reaches oceans and marine ecosystems.
Upon accepting the role, Ambassador Cordano described plastic pollution as a global challenge affecting every country, community, and individual, stressing the urgent need for an international treaty capable of coordinating worldwide action.
The appointment comes at a critical stage in negotiations, with countries seeking consensus on measures that could reshape how plastics are produced, consumed, recycled, and managed across the global economy.
Delegates also elected Linroy Christian of Antigua and Barbuda as Vice-Chair during the Geneva meeting. The session focused exclusively on organizational matters and leadership appointments, with no substantive treaty negotiations taking place.
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), which supports the process, welcomed the leadership transition. INC Executive Secretary Jyoti Mathur-Filipp said the Secretariat looks forward to supporting the Committee under Cordano's leadership as negotiations move toward their next phase.
A Treaty Years in the Making
The push for a global plastics treaty began in March 2022, when member states at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) adopted a landmark resolution calling for the development of a legally binding international agreement to tackle plastic pollution.
Since then, governments have participated in multiple rounds of negotiations held across several continents:
- INC-1: Punta del Este, Uruguay (2022)
- INC-2: Paris, France (2023)
- INC-3: Nairobi, Kenya (2023)
- INC-4: Ottawa, Canada (2024)
- INC-5.1: Busan, South Korea (2024)
- INC-5.2: Geneva, Switzerland (2025)
- INC-5.3: Geneva, Switzerland (2026)
The negotiations have brought together governments, industry representatives, scientists, environmental groups, and civil society organizations to debate how ambitious the final agreement should be.
Why the Treaty Matters
Environmental experts warn that plastic pollution is growing at an alarming rate.
Millions of tons of plastic enter rivers, coastlines, and oceans each year, threatening marine ecosystems, wildlife, fisheries, tourism industries, and human health.
The proposed treaty is expected to address issues ranging from plastic production and product design to waste management, recycling systems, and marine pollution prevention.
Supporters argue that a global framework is essential because plastic pollution crosses national borders and cannot be solved by individual countries acting alone.
What Happens Next?
With new leadership now in place, attention will shift toward the next phase of negotiations, where governments must bridge major differences over the scope and ambition of the treaty.
The challenge facing negotiators will be finding common ground between countries seeking strict limits on plastic production and those favoring a more flexible approach focused on waste management and recycling.
As talks continue, the world will be watching whether nations can reach agreement on what many environmental advocates describe as one of the most important global environmental treaties since the Paris Climate Agreement.