INC-5.2 : “Last Good Chance” to Conclude Plastic Pollution Treaty

On August 5, 2025 the resumed session of the fifth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) opened today at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. It is described by many as the last good chance to conclude negotiations on a global plastic pollution treaty.

Large national delegations are in attendance, joined by more than 2,000 registered observers (including the founding members of the Coalition of Local and Subnational Governments to End Plastic Pollution.  Several mayors and representatives of regional governments such as Quebec and Flanders, who are participating as part of the Canadian and Belgian national delegations respectively, attend as well.

The goal: to agree on a final treaty text by 15 August. The official INC website is publishing the positions, visions, and statements of States and a wide range of observers throughout the negotiations.

Speaking during yesterday’s Stakeholders Day, we delivered a statement on the position of the Local and Subnational Governments’ Coalition, emphasizing two key points:

1. Local and subnational governments are central actors at every stage of the plastics life cycle, managing plastic waste and pollution in every part of the world.
2. They are valuable partners to States, — and often leaders in their jurisdictions — in innovation, science-based approaches, and practical solutions to combat plastic pollution.

The Coalition urged national governments and the secretariat to:

• Include Subnational and Local governments in the final text of the treaty  to ensure formal recognition of their role once adopted.
• Involve them in decision-making (and funding, and capacity building and national plans’ related activities) so they can work directly with the future Secretariat of the treaty to ensure effective implementation.

As the Coalition stressed, “Recognizing and empowering local and regional governments is essential for this treaty to succeed.” Co-Director Kamelia Kemileva of Global Cities Hub, speakeing on behalf of the Coalition, also reminded that Local and Subnational Governments must be partners of any national implementation plan when the treaty is adopted.

To read the full statement, click here. To read the statement pronounced at the opening : click here. To read the proposed language : click here. 

Illustration: The Thinker’s Burden on Place des Nations by Benjamin Von Wong during the Plastics Treaty negotiations