Global Ministers Call for Plastics Treaty That Limits Production, Not Just Waste

Key Impact Points:

• Ministers from Panama, Colombia, France, Fiji, and others say plastic production—not just recycling—must be addressed.
• Treaty negotiations in Geneva next month may be the last chance for years to secure a binding global agreement.
• “We cannot recycle our way out of the plastic pollution crisis” is the call to action from 96 countries backing the Nice Wake-Up Call.

High-Level Push for Stronger Plastics Treaty

Panama’s Juan Carlos Navarro, Minister of Environment, and Juan Carlos Monterrey, Special Representative for Climate Change, joined global leaders in demanding that the UN Plastics Treaty tackles the root of the problem: plastic production.

“We cannot recycle our way out of the plastic pollution crisis.”

At the June 2025 UN Oceans Conference, 96 countries signed the Nice Wake-Up Call, declaring the need for a treaty that covers the full lifecycle of plastics—from production to pollution.

Related Article: Panama Minister Juan Carlos Navarro: “Nature Financing Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a Necessity”

Why Production Must Be Addressed

Current global plastic production exceeds 560 million tonnes annually, with projections to triple by 2060. Ministers warn that banning straws and bags won’t cut it.

“The less plastic that is produced, the less pollution there will be.”

Recycling, they argue, has failed to scale—recycling rates hover at just 10% even in wealthy nations. Much of this waste is exported to developing countries, burned or landfilled.

A Treaty That Must Evolve

Ministers called for legally binding regulations to:

• Phase out non-recyclable and toxic plastics
• Adapt lists of harmful products through science-based review
• Improve plastic product design for circularity and health
• Ensure protection of vulnerable groups like Indigenous Peoples and waste pickers

Related Article: Juan Carlos Monterrey Gómez to Help Lead Nature Summit as Panama Hosts Global Climate Week

“The treaty must ensure the protection of their rights.”

Financial Support for Developing Countries

For small island states and developing nations, success hinges on:

• New and accessible financing mechanisms
• Means of implementation that match ambition

Without this, leaders warned, the treaty will fall short of delivering real impact.

A Critical Juncture in Geneva

Next month’s negotiations in Geneva are seen as a pivotal—and possibly final—opportunity to agree on a legally binding global plastics treaty.

“Even if some states are not willing to come to the table, the process must go on.”

The message from Panama, France, Colombia, Fiji, and others is clear: Humanity cannot afford to fail.

“We are drowning in plastic pollution, and a global, effective and immediate plastics treaty is our only option.”