Geneva: Negotiations for a legally binding global plastics treaty have hit a stalemate, with India siding with the Like-Minded Countries (LMC) bloc — a group of major petrochemical producers — in support of a controversial draft that drops plastic production limits and chemical restrictions.

The draft, released by Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso, keeps voluntary measures on recycling, product redesign, and waste management but removes binding commitments to reduce virgin plastic output. The only mention of production appears in the preamble, with no enforceable provisions.

India Calls It a “Starting Point”

Naresh Pal Gangwar, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and head of India’s delegation, admitted key elements were missing but described the text as “good enough” to begin further negotiations, urging other nations to “trust” the chair’s leadership.

India’s stance aligns with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Malaysia, and other LMC members, who have consistently opposed global phase-out lists, production caps, or trade restrictions on plastics.

Sharp Criticism From High-Ambition Nations

The European Union condemned the draft as failing to meet even the “minimum requirements” under UNEA 5/14, calling for binding measures to curb virgin plastic production. Norway, co-chair of the High Ambition Coalition, labeled it “unacceptable,” while Colombia rejected it outright as “imbalanced,” earning applause from environmental advocates.

Civil society groups were equally vocal. Swathi Seshadri of IEEFA said the proposal would “do nothing to address plastic pollution,” while David Azoulay of CIEL called it “a mockery” that could lock in plastic production growth indefinitely. Ana Rocha of GAIA criticized the removal of Article 6 on production cuts, warning the treaty risked becoming merely a “waste-management” agreement.

Defending the Draft

Valdivieso argued the text represents a “thoughtfully balanced framework” reflecting the priorities of all negotiating parties. He urged delegates to work toward a second draft before Thursday’s closing plenary, the last scheduled day of talks.

With just hours left, the divide between production-cut advocates and petrochemical-aligned states remains unresolved — raising concerns that the treaty may fall far short of addressing the root causes of plastic pollution.

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