Exclusive to Insiders: Chair of UN Plastics Treaty Steps Down, Throwing Negotiations Into Crisis

Октябрь 8, 2025

6:52 дп

UNITED NATIONS, October 7 — The global effort to end plastic pollution was thrown into disarray today after the chair of the United Nations plastics treaty negotiations, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, announced his resignation, citing “personal and professional reasons.” The surprise decision comes amid deep divisions between nations and growing criticism of the process’s transparency, raising fears that one of the most ambitious environmental agreements in decades may be unraveling.

A Process Already Under Strain

The plastics treaty, formally launched in 2022, was envisioned as a landmark global accord—one that would curb plastic production, address toxic chemicals, and tackle waste that is choking oceans, rivers, and communities worldwide. For more than three years, negotiations have been fraught with competing agendas between oil-producing nations, major plastics manufacturers, and countries demanding strict production limits.

Valdivieso, Ecuador’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, was appointed to guide the process toward a legally binding agreement by 2025. But his leadership has been under mounting pressure since the latest round of negotiations in Geneva collapsed in August, when delegates failed to agree on a revised draft text.

Accusations of Interference

Behind the scenes, tensions had been simmering. Allegations emerged that officials from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) convened a private meeting with civil society organizations in an attempt to shape perceptions of Valdivieso’s leadership. According to attendees, the gathering was presented as a dialogue on process improvement but later shifted toward questioning the chair’s management of the talks.

Valdivieso responded by requesting a formal investigation, calling for transparency and accountability within the negotiating process. While he stopped short of directly accusing UNEP of misconduct, his resignation statement alluded to “institutional pressures inconsistent with the spirit of impartial diplomacy.”

Disputes Over the Draft Treaty

Much of the current turmoil centers on the latest draft text, criticized for watering down key commitments. Provisions calling for limits on plastic production were removed, and references to hazardous chemical regulation were softened. The text’s release was met with an immediate backlash from countries advocating for stronger global controls, who accused the process of bending to industry influence.

A subsequent alternative draft offered marginal improvements but failed to restore confidence. Negotiators described the process as “disorganized” and “opaque,” with several smaller nations expressing concern that their voices were being sidelined.

A Leadership Vacuum

Valdivieso’s resignation leaves the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee without a clear path forward. The next round of talks, scheduled for Busan, South Korea in November, now faces uncertainty over who will preside and whether the process can recover its legitimacy in time to meet the 2025 target.

Diplomats are expected to hold emergency consultations in the coming days to nominate a successor. Candidates from Africa and Asia are reportedly being considered to help restore balance and rebuild trust among delegations.

The Stakes for the Planet

Plastic pollution has become one of the most visible environmental crises of the century. More than 400 million tons of plastic are produced annually, with only a fraction recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, waterways, and the ocean, where it harms wildlife, contaminates food chains, and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

For small island nations and coastal states, the issue is existential. Many rely on tourism and fisheries that are directly threatened by plastic pollution. These countries have called for the treaty to include not just waste management but also production caps to address the root causes of the crisis.

The Road Ahead

Whether the UN plastics treaty can be salvaged will depend on the next chair’s ability to rebuild credibility and navigate the competing interests of governments, industries, and environmental groups.

Without decisive leadership, observers warn the treaty could join a growing list of international environmental processes mired in political gridlock. For now, the world’s attempt to end the plastic crisis stands at a crossroads—with trust fractured and time running out.

SDG NEWS INSIDER Actionable Intel for Government Readers

Plastics Treaty Leadership Crisis

Exclusive intelligence on how Luis Vayas Valdivieso’s resignation reshapes global treaty talks.

Insider Briefing

Actionable Intel for Government Readers

Global Plastics Treaty — Leadership in Crisis

Bottom Line
The resignation of Luis Vayas Valdivieso has plunged the plastics treaty process into uncertainty just months before critical negotiations. The absence of trusted leadership threatens to derail the 2025 deadline for a binding global agreement.

Key Insights for Policy and Engagement

Leadership Transition Watch

Expect a scramble to appoint a neutral successor capable of managing political tensions and restoring trust across negotiating blocs.

Frontline Nations Demand Equity

Small island and coastal states are calling for greater inclusion and stronger production caps to protect their economies and ecosystems.

Private Sector Under Pressure

Global plastics producers face intensifying scrutiny from both governments and consumers to align business models with circular economy commitments.

Strategic Takeaway

With leadership in flux and political confidence waning, governments, corporations, and investors that act now to shape or support the next phase of treaty talks will define the direction—and credibility—of global plastic regulation for the next decade.

Editor’s Note

This briefing is distributed exclusively to senior officials and policymakers across 185+ countries to provide objective intelligence and actionable insights on global governance and multilateral engagement.