After Global Plastics Treaty Talks Stall, Canada Must Lead on Plastic Pollution Now
Press Release Date: August 15, 2025
Toronto, the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnaabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat Peoples — After more than 24 hours of marathon negotiations, the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) in Geneva ended without agreement on a global plastics treaty. A small group of countries blocked measures to tackle plastic pollution at its source, leaving the world without a plan to address a crisis that is devastating oceans, harming wildlife, and threatening human health. The INC process will resume at a later date to be determined by the Chair.
Anthony Merante, Senior Plastics Campaigner at Oceana Canada, is on the ground at the Global Plastics Treaty (INC 5.2) in Geneva:
“The fifth resumed session of (INC 5.2) ended without an agreement on a global treaty to end plastic pollution. Canada rejected a weakened draft treaty and stood up for science, bolstered by support from advocates including Oceana Canada. But while negotiations stall, plastic pollution continues to pile up in landfills, the oceans, and in human bodies.
Though the outcome of INC 5.2 is disappointing, it reinforces the importance of leadership starting at home. Canada has the tools to act by banning harmful products and toxic chemicals, standardizing packaging, and building a circular economy that supports reuse. Canada, along with other ambitious countries, must start making an impact now — the oceans can’t wait any longer.”
Find out more about Oceana Canada’s campaign to stop single-use plastic pollution at Oceana.ca/Plastics.
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Oceana Canada was established as an independent charity in 2015 and is part of the largest international
advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana Canada has successfully campaigned to ban single-use plastics, end the shark fin trade, make rebuilding depleted fish populations the law, improve the way fisheries are managed and protect marine habitat. We work with civil society, academics, fishers, Indigenous Peoples and the federal government to return Canada’s formerly vibrant oceans to health and abundance. By restoring Canada’s oceans, we can strengthen our communities, reap greater economic and nutritional benefits and protect our future. Find out more at Oceana.ca.
