Samuel Winton, Author at Global Plastics Policy Centre

Storm clouds gather over the Palais des Nations as news filters through to observers gathered on the lawns that progress is not being made. Photo by Sam Winton.

A disappointing end to INC 5.2 in Geneva: What next for a negotiation on life support?

Posted on: 16 August 2025

This did not need to be inevitable but I believe choices made at the highest levels in this process, both among members and the leadership, have made it so....

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Delegates gather for an explosive plenary with frenzied huddles across the room digesting the new Chairs Text. Photo: Sam Winton.

With 24 hours to go, the committee has been clear: Ambition is not up for compromise and attempts by UNEP to deliver a treaty at any cost will not be tolerated

Posted on: 14 August 2025

Many stakeholders believe that a weak treaty could be worse than no treaty at all, sucking the political life from future actions to meaningfully address plastic pollution in the...

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Photo of screen stating 'Private Session' as most substantive negotiations have moved almost entirely behind closed doors. Photo: Sam Winton

Small victories but continued divergence and a ticking clock are causing concern at the highest levels of the INC 5.2 negotiations

Posted on: 13 August 2025

‘In spirit of compromise and consensus and understanding that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, we agree to drop our proposal’. These words met with warm applause in...

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Observers engaged in a silent protest on Saturday, lining the path to access the Assembly Hall and holding signs asking members to ‘Fix the process, keep your promise, end plastic pollution’ at INC5.2

Groundhog day as progress at the halfway point of INC 5.2 is far too slow

Posted on: 11 August 2025

‘A lot of effort has been made this week but progress has not been sufficient. Despite 2.5 years of opportunity for delegations to make proposals and ample opportunity for...

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Contact Group 1 convening to discuss Article 3 - Plastic Products. Photo by Samuel Winton.

Procedural purgatory, intransient positions, and slow progress as INC 5.2 negotiations continue

Posted on: 8 August 2025

‘It seems like we have reached a new level of procedural purgatory’. This was the opinion of one member at 8pm on the second day of deliberations in Contact...

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Photo of traditional Alphorn players outside the Palais des Nations in Geneva at the start of INC 5.2. Photo by Samuel Winton.

INC 5.2 stumbles off the line as early procedural challenges plague the first day of negotiations

Posted on: 6 August 2025

Geneva is the birthplace of modern multilateralism. It is perhaps unsurprising therefore that the future of multilateralism was on the mind of Ambassador Luis Vayas as he called the...

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The Allee des Nations with the Flags of Member Countries at United Nations Office, Geneva - Photo by Hugo Magalhaes

The final round of negotiations is about to resume in Geneva: Will governments deliver a global agreement to end plastic pollution?

Posted on: 4 August 2025

UN negotiations resume this week in Geneva in what may be the final chance to agree a global plastics treaty. Previous rounds have been marked by deep divisions and...

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