Toxics Link at INC-5.2
More than 2,600 participants—including about 1,400 delegates from 183 countries, 1,000 observers, and 70 ministers or vice-ministers—gathered at the Palais des Nations in Geneva for Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC)-5.2, the latest round of negotiations for a legally binding international treaty to end plastic pollution. It was held from August 5-15, 2025.
This session aimed to finalise text for a global instrument addressing plastic pollution across its full life cycle—from design and production to disposal. However, deep divides persisted on issues like production caps, financing, and chemicals of concern. A “Chair’s Draft” and “Revised Text Proposal” were tabled, but no consensus was reached, and the session adjourned without agreement.
India remained consistent in its earlier position against production caps and binding global standards and supported a voluntary, nationally determined approach. The argument was upstream restrictions could hinder economic development, employment, and industrial growth. Regarding financing, India demanded assured, predictable support from developing countries before taking on additional obligations.
Ms Alka Dubey, Programme Coordinator, Toxics Link, represented the organisation as an observer at INC-5.2 . For more than a decade, Toxics Link has raised the concern of plastics – both waste management as well as chemicals associated with it, including management of overall plastic waste, impact assessment of regulations, microplastics as an emerging global threat, single-use plastic, addressing chemicals of concern, and ensuring a just transition for waste pickers.
