Today, August 15, 2025 at 10:00 am Geneva time – ASH stands with the high ambition countries that refused to accept the fatally weak text offered by countries that benefit from plastic production. No treaty is better than a weak treaty that depends on voluntary actions, falls short on
Contentious Draft Text Divides Negotiators as Plastics Treaty Talks Near Deadline August 13, 2025 – On the ninth day of negotiations for the UN treaty to end plastic pollution, the Chair released a new text that drew strong criticism from both ends of the spectrum. High-ambition countries seeking a robust
Youth Demand Action on the Plastics Treaty August 12, 2025 – On the eighth day of the final round of negotiations to develop a treaty addressing plastic pollution, Geneva sweltered at 100°F—but there was still no meaningful agreement in sight. This, despite a loud and clear plea from youth leaders to governments: “If
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,
August 9, 2025 – Countries remain divided as the 5th day of negotiations continue late into the night. While a still significant number of countries continues to call for a meaningful treaty to end plastic pollution, the powerful oil and plastic producing states continue to block any language that would
Guest Blog from Luciano Ruggia from the Swiss Association for Tobacco Control August 8, 2025 – The INC 5.2 negotiations in Geneva: a recipe for a plastic disaster? As the first week of what is meant to be the final round of negotiations in Geneva draws to a close, the
August 7, 2025 – Today we witnessed another day of intense negotiations. On the positive side, more than 120 countries support the concept of introducing a dedicated health article in the plastic treaty, something that would greatly help align the plastic treaty to the tobacco treaty. Also, a number of
Divided Paths at INC-5.2: The Future of the Global Plastics Treaty Hangs in the Balance August 6, 2025 – Day two of the INC-5.2 negotiations has revealed a stark divide among participating countries. On one side are nations committed to creating a strong, binding global instrument to tackle plastic pollution
August 5, 2025 – Today, countries of the world began the last round of negotiations of the UN Treaty to End Plastic Pollution. We hope countries will be able to agree on what steps are needed to tackle the most problematic forms plastic pollution. ASH will be present throughout the negotiations
Media Contact: Megan Manning (202) 390 – 9513 UN Treaty Must Ban Cigarette Filters – Global Health and Environmental Groups Urge Action GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – AUGUST 5, 2025 – Starting today, governments from around the world are meeting in Geneva for the final round of negotiations (INC5.2) for a new
Media Contact: Megan Manning manningm@ash.org (202) 659-4310 Santa Cruz County’s Cigarette Filter Ban Lights a Global Fire SACRAMENTO, CA – MAY 20, 2025 – In honor of World No Tobacco Day (May 31), Action on Smoking and Health amplifies the global leadership of Santa Cruz County, California which became the
Sunday, December 1, 2024 – Member States met in Informal and Regional Sessions today behind closed doors, without the participation of Observers for the third day in a row. A revised Chair’s non paper text was released late in the day. Cigarette filters made of plastic remain in an optional Annex. Plenary
Saturday, November 30, 2024 – We’re disappointed to report that Observers were unable to participate again today as all sessions were Informal Consultations for Member States only. We understand that yet another new version of text will be available at some point this evening. We’ll provide the link as soon
Friday, November 29, 2024 – We learned early this morning that the agenda would only include Informal Consultations with a Plenary at 7:00pm. It’s important to note that Observers like ASH’s delegation and our environmental organization allies are not permitted to access Informal Consultations. Late in the day, we learned
Guest Contribution: The Filter Myth: Widespread Misconceptions Among INC5 Attendees Could Undermine Efforts to Ban Cigarette Filters in the Global Plastics Treaty Geoffrey T. Fong, OC, PhD, FRSC, FCAHS University Professor of Psychology and Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo Senior Investigator, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research Shannon Gravely, PhD
Updates from the Floor November 27, 2024 – Contact Group 1 continued this morning with several Member States and groups of Member States presenting proposals for text for Article 3 – Plastic Products and Chemicals of Concern as Used in Plastic Products. As anticipated, there was broad support and broad
Guest Contribution Amélie ESCHENBRENNER (Communications Manager, Comité National Contre le Tabagisme) and Raquel VENÂNCIO (Senior Policy Officer, Smoke Free Partnership) attended the EU stakeholder meeting and reports: During the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission stakeholders meeting for NGOs and Civil Society on Tuesday, 16th
Monday, November 25, 2024 – Thank you to the Republic of Korea and our local colleagues for your warm hospitality and for welcoming us all to your lovely city of Busan. Yesterday, regional consultations were held, and NGO observers were invited to attend an informal session for discussions with INC
April 30, 2024 – The fourth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for a treaty to end plastic pollution was relatively grueling. Eight days (Weekend? What weekend?) with informal meetings for the three days leading up to the official start. ASH and its allies in the Stop Tobacco Pollution
Media Contact: Megan Manning (202) 390 – 9513 UN Plastics Treaty Negotiations Move Forward with Strong Support for Banning Cigarette Filters WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 30, 2024 – The Fourth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) to develop an international legally binding treaty on ending plastic pollution, adjourned April 29, 2024, in
April 28, 2024 – INC4 returned to full plenary for the first time in several days in order to discuss the possibility of intercessional work. Given the state of the draft text, it seems impossible to finish at INC5 in the absence of work over the next few months. –
April 27, 2024 – It is the fifth day of negotiations and fatigue is becoming evident as sessions go to 11:00pm and later, and the weekend brings no respite. Working groups are deep in text negotiations. And both contact groups that are negotiating our major interests will begin to move
April 26, 2024 – The third and fourth days of negotiations were spent discussing the minutiae of critical sections of the treaty. The highlight of the day came when Peru called for cigarette filters to be banned. Panama quickly supported them. Other notable news: – Switzerland, supported by four other
April 24, 2024 – Today the INC broke into groups to begin the arduous task of editing the zero draft. Even on the second day, the need for quick progress was recognized, and negotiations continued throughout the evening hours. This is when the work becomes a marathon; large delegations have
April 23, 2024 – Today was the opening of INC-4 and began with the opening plenary. The Chair – Luis Vayas Valdivieso of Ecuador – asked that delegations not make typical opening statements in order to save time. All the countries that produce oil or plastic precursor chemicals did so
