SDG News Spotlight: Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso

By SDG News Editorial Team

8 月 1, 2025

9:16 上午

The Diplomat Steering the World Toward a Global Plastics Treaty

Next week, as delegates from every corner of the globe converge on Geneva for a historic round of negotiations, all eyes will be on one man: Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso, the seasoned Ecuadorian diplomat presiding as Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on plastic pollution.

With just days remaining before the final scheduled session – INC‑5.2, from August 5–14 – Ambassador Vayas carries the weight of expectation on his shoulders. After nearly two years of negotiations, his leadership will be central to determining whether the world can finally deliver on its promise: a legally binding international treaty to end plastic pollution.

A Steady Hand at a Defining Moment

Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso is no stranger to complexity. With a career that has spanned multilateral diplomacy, environmental governance, and global consensus-building, he brings deep institutional knowledge and unwavering calm to the table. Since assuming the INC Chairmanship in late 2023, he has carefully guided the process through a series of high-stakes meetings – most recently INC‑5.1 in Busan, where he introduced the pivotal “Chair’s Text” as a bridge between divergent views.

Now, in Geneva, he will convene ministers, negotiators, and civil society leaders for what could be a Paris Agreement‑style breakthrough—or a breakdown in global coordination.

From Draft Text to Global Accord

Under his direction, negotiators will revisit core issues that have defined the treaty process:

Limits on plastic production
Phase-outs of toxic chemical additives
National action plans with global reporting standards
Financing for implementation in low- and middle-income countries
Recognition of informal waste workers and local governments

Vayas has made clear that “business-as-usual is not an option.” In Busan, he reminded countries that “only through bold political will, relentless effort, and unwavering commitment” would the treaty process succeed. His words landed not as platitudes, but as a challenge to move beyond declarations – and into action.

The Art of Inclusion

One of Ambassador Vayas’ signature strengths is his ability to hold space for both ambition and pragmatism. He has encouraged a negotiation process that elevates the voices of those most impacted: frontline communities, Indigenous Peoples, informal waste workers, and subnational governments.

Ahead of Geneva, he welcomed open letters from local and regional authorities who argued for a stronger role in treaty design and implementation. “Inclusivity,” he noted, “is not just a value – it is a condition for success.”

Diplomacy in the Age of Disagreement

Navigating the geopolitical landscape of plastic pollution is no small feat. Countries pushing for robust production limits and phase-outs of harmful additives often find themselves at odds with powerful petrochemical-producing states. Despite these tensions, Vayas has maintained trust across the negotiating table – speaking with moral clarity while honoring procedural fairness.

Luis Vayas Valdivieso’s reputation as a bridge-builder has been critical, especially as discussions heat up over whether the final treaty should be adopted by consensus or allow for majority voting in case of deadlock. As Geneva approaches, that procedural question could determine the outcome.

What Comes Next

The next ten days in Geneva may prove decisive. If negotiators align on a treaty text, a diplomatic conference could be scheduled for early 2026 to formally adopt the agreement. If they fail, the opportunity to cap runaway plastic pollution could slip away – despite growing scientific alarm and public pressure.

For now, Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso remains focused. “We are close,” he said recently, “but close is not enough. The world expects results.”

As the world watches, SDG News will be on the ground in Geneva – covering every step of this critical moment for our planet, and for the leaders working to protect it.