Global Momentum Builds for Binding Plastic Pollution Treaty in Nice
An escalating effort to crack down on plastic pollution in the world peaked in June, 2025, when world leaders, civil society networks and campaigners converged in Nice on what was to be the marquee event at the UN Ocean Conference. Their mutual aim: to push a legally binding deal to cover the whole life cycle of plastics, including manufacturing to disposal. With the declaration of the following as the Nice Wake Up Call, sponsored by 95 countries, the move is going towards pledges made in the spirit of voluntary action to global action that can be enforceable. This wave of momentum owes itself to an increasing level of awareness that plastic pollution is not only an environmental problem, that it is also a threat to human health, climate, and economic stability.
The Scale and Urgency of the Plastic Crisis
The creation of plastic has skyrocketed in the last twenty years and has doubled to exceed 460 million tonnes every year. The production in the world is set to be even higher at 500 million tonnes by the end of 2025 assuming constant trend and may eventually reach one billion tonnes much before 2050. All this exponential growth has exceeded the waste management systems and resulted in contamination of the environment. It is predicted that plastic leakage to the environment will rise 50 percent by 2040 resulting in catastrophic effects on oceans, wildlife and human communities.
The Mediterranean Sea, which was put in the spotlight by French authorities at the conference, is one of the most polluted ocean regions, suffocating under plastic trash. The crisis is no longer on the horizon. According to French Minister for the Ecological Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher,
“Plastic pollution is no longer a distant threat. It is a crisis unfolding before our eyes, impacting our ocean, our health, our environment”.
The Nice Declaration: A Turning Point
The “Nice Wake Up Call” statement came as a diplomatic breakthrough, showing widespread agreement between states that voluntary efforts have not been able to curb the plastic tide. The statement invites setting a global goal to reduce production and use of primary plastic polymers to environmentally sustainable levels, with goals to be made periodically more ambitious. This perspective acknowledges that the origin of the crisis is unregulated consumption and production, rather than waste disposal.
The declaration places five essential points which are to adopt global reduction targets, discard the most troublesome plastics and chemicals, create better product design, set financial measures of treaty implementation, and that the treaty is to be flexible enough to keep up with any new scientific proofs. These factors are supposed to offer a very sound platform of negotiations, which is going to be going up at Geneva in August 2025.
Stakeholder Perspectives and Statements
Civil society organizations have thrown their weight behind the Nice Declaration. A statement signed by 234 groups emphasized the need for binding commitments rather than voluntary measures. Graham Forbes, Greenpeace Head of Delegation to the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, said,
“The Nice Declaration, signed by an overwhelming majority of countries, is the wake-up call the world needs. Governments are finally saying the quiet part out loud: we cannot end plastic pollution without cutting plastic production. Full stop”.
Forbes stressed that the declaration matters only if countries back it up with action in Geneva: “No voluntary nonsense, no loopholes, and no surrender to fossil fuel and petrochemical interests. We need a treaty with teeth—one that slashes plastic production, holds polluters accountable, and protects people on the frontlines”.
Marian Ledesma, Greenpeace Philippines Zero Waste Campaigner, echoed the urgency for real action:
“The Nice Declaration sends a powerful message: to protect people and the planet, we must tackle the root of the problem—plastic overproduction driven by fossil fuels and single-use plastic addiction by corporations. For countries like the Philippines, where the impacts of plastic pollution and climate change are deeply felt, this is a matter of justice”.
Political Leadership and International Dynamics
France, as host of the conference, played a central role in rallying support for the declaration. French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot described plastic pollution as a “scourge” and warned,
“The ocean is its first victim. The Mediterranean Sea in particular is choking under the weight of that pollution. Science is alerting us to its impact on the climate, biodiversity and human health, and is urging us to take action”.
Despite the broad support, some major plastic-producing countries, including the US and China, have not yet signed the declaration. Opposition from a minority of oil-producing nations, led by Saudi Arabia and China, has previously stalled progress, with these countries pushing for a treaty focused solely on waste management and resisting binding caps on production. The Nice Declaration represents a clear rejection of this limited approach, asserting that “addressing the increasing and unsustainable levels of production and consumption of plastics is essential and represents one of the most efficient and cost-effective approaches to achieving the objective to end plastic pollution”.
The Role of Civil Society and Science
Advocacy by civil society has been instrumental in moulding the ambition of the treaty. More than 235 groups have called on the treaty to tackle the whole life of plastics, from design and manufacture through to disposal7. They say only a science-led, whole-life approach will stop damaging human lives and the environment further.
Erin Simon, World Wildlife Fund vice president of plastic waste and business, said,
“The statement is a good signal of strong backing for creating a legally binding treaty”. Countries must arrive at the negotiation table prepared to work on a treaty that benefits both people and the planet”.
Frontline Voices and Global Justice
Least developed countries, particularly the ones that are mostly impacted by plastic contamination, have brought to the forefront the importance of justice and fairness in treaty negotiations. The Philippines, one of the signatories, has urged a treaty that not just curbs plastic production but also offers economic and technical assistance to vulnerable countries. Marian Ledesma emphasized that commitments made by governments must become a matter of national action, including policies for phasing out single-use plastics as well as enhancing reuse and refill systems.
Several developing countries favor enhanced waste management but object to the imposition of production-constraining targets, invoking national sovereignty and the common but differentiated responsibilities principle. They contend that the solutions need to take into consideration the socio economic issues of countries in varying development stages.
Industry and Fossil Fuel Interests
The campaign towards a binding agreement is opposed by the fossil fuel and petrochemical sectors, which have much to gain from unabated plastic production.The Nice Declaration’s call for a global cap on production and phase-out of toxic products directly challenges these interests.
Industry lobbyists have argued for a focus on recycling and voluntary commitments, but campaigners warn that such measures are insufficient. Graham Forbes of Greenpeace sent a clear message:
“The message to industry lobbyists is loud and clear: the health of our children is more important than your bottom line”.
The Road to Geneva and Beyond
Negotiations will resume in Geneva in August 2025, where the specifics of the treaty text will be hammered out. The Nice Declaration sets a high bar for ambition, but the real test will be whether countries can translate political will into binding commitments. The outcome will determine whether the world can finally turn the tide on plastic pollution or whether the crisis will continue to escalate.
Andres del Castillo, Senior Attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law, commented,
“The Wake Up Call should be seen as a floor, not a ceiling. For the Global Plastics Treaty to succeed, Member States must move beyond vague promises and define how they are going to deliver, including through clear, legally binding measures and a human rights-based approach”.
Public Engagement and Awareness
The momentum in Nice has been matched by public campaigns worldwide. Airports and transport hubs in cities like Baghdad, Beijing, Brussels, Geneva, and Mexico City have engaged millions of travelers with messages about plastic pollution, reflecting a growing global awareness. The Nice Declaration has also galvanized support from youth, scientists, and local communities, all demanding urgent action.
On social media, environmental advocate Hugo SAS spoke about the treaty’s significance during his interview with a French news channel. He highlighted the unprecedented unity among nations and civil society, stating, “This is a moment when the world is coming together to say enough is enough. The Nice Declaration is not just another statement—it’s a mandate for action. The next negotiations in Geneva will be the real test of our resolve.”
The beginning of the end for single-use plastic! 🚨✊🛑🌍🐋
— Hugo Tagholm (@HugoSAS) March 2, 2022
A historic day in Nairobi as 175 nations agree to a resolution for a legally binding agreement to #EndPlasticPollution, addressing the full life-cycle of plastic, from production to disposal. #GobalPlasticsTreaty pic.twitter.com/GPBfLFBs3P
Next Steps in the Global Plastics Treaty Effort
This campaign to adopt a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution has hit a tipping point after the developments in Nice. As 95 countries are now consenting to ambitious reduction goals, the focus turns to future negotiating meetings in Geneva. World leaders are feeling the pressure of whether the promises made will become an actual course of action, leading toward an entirely different future with significantly reduced plastic wastes. The actions taken over the next few months will leave a legacy of the health of the oceans, health of communities across the world, and the environment that future generations inherit.
