ASH joins the Stop Tobacco Pollution Alliance in attending the second session of the fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Conference (INC-5.2) of the United Nations Treaty to End Plastic Pollution in Geneva, Switzerland, from August 5 – 14, 2025. ASH’s Executive Director, Laurent Huber, will share updates and progress here for our community to stay engaged and informed.
August 11, 2025 – Wide Divides Persist in Plastics Treaty Negotiations
Negotiations on the global plastics treaty resumed in Geneva on Monday for a seventh straight day, following closed-door talks on Sunday. Despite intensive discussions, a wide gap remains between countries pushing for a strong agreement and major plastic-producing states, leaving no clear path yet to a treaty that can protect current and future generations from plastic-related harms. A notable development: One delegation introduced preambular language referencing “relevant international health agreements” and calling for compatibility with them. If retained, this could help ensure coherence and synergy between the UN plastics process and global tobacco control instruments (e.g., the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control). Environmental ministers from numerous countries are expected tomorrow, and their presence could provide the political momentum needed to advance toward a meaningful agreement.
ASH’s Key Points for INC-5.2 are available to review in: English
