The International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Plastics, International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples Event, held in Room XII at Palais des Nations where the first UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations met on August 9th,1982, co-hosted by IIPFP and the INC Co-Chair, Luis Vayas, August 9th, 2025. Photo credit: Dylan Kava
Geneva, Switzerland: On Friday August 15th at what was intended to be the final session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC 5.2) to develop a legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution, including the marine environment, INC Chairman Luis Vayas (Ecuador) abruptly declared the session concluded. This closing plenary took place at 5:30 AM. The Chairman declared that no consensus had been reached on a text by the States. He did not announce any future negotiations. The United Nations began work on the “Plastics Pollution Treaty” in 2022 in recognition of the negative impacts on human and environmental health worldwide.
The International Indian Treaty Council’s (IITC) delegation to INC 5.2 included Indigenous representatives from the North and Central America, the Pacific and Africa regions. IITC, other Indigenous Peoples delegations from all regions, allied organizations and many State representatives who are committed to an effective Plastics Treaty were shocked and very disappointed by the abrupt end of the “final” INC, with no way forward announced.
“This is a major setback for Indigenous Peoples whose health, ecosystems, traditional food sources and ways of life are undermined by plastics pollution. This failure is also tied to climate change since plastics are produced from petroleum, a main driver of the climate crisis” stated Rochelle Diver, Anishinaabe. Rochelle led the delegation as IITC’s Environmental Treaties Coordinator. Rochelle was also selected for a 2nd time to serve as co-chair of the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Plastics (IIPFP), the Indigenous Peoples caucus established for negotiation and representation in this process.
Although there was strong support from some States, mainly the Pacific Island Developing States (PSIDS), but also from members of the “High Ambition Coalition” made up of 120 States, other oil producing states opposed meaningful solutions that would address the full lifecycle of plastics. The United States and Kuwait forced the shutdown of the closing plenary session, successfully silencing Indigenous Peoples, scientists and civil society organizations who were prepared to deliver closing statements.
Indigenous Peoples from 6 socio-cultural regions were active and persistent in the negotiations and presented proposals to Member States, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the INC Chair. They emphasized the need to incorporate and safeguard the rights of Indigenous Peoples in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in the Preamble and Operative Paragraphs of this new international instrument.
IITC along with other Indigenous Peoples who committed time and resources in this process deeply regret that the participating States failed to reach agreement on a treaty that could provide meaningful and measurable change. IITC remains committed to this process, and awaits the UN’s announcement of the next steps to continue the negotiations. Juan Leon, Maya K’iche, IITC’s Biodiversity and Human Rights Program Coordinator also participated in IITC’s delegation to INC 5.2. After the abrupt closing of the final plenary he confirmed that “it is necessary and urgent to have a treaty that benefits and guarantees life, human rights, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples. But the work on this Treaty must transcend the interests of powerful countries and industries that prioritize their business interests over life and seek to dictate global policies to serve their own economic benefits”.
For more information, please contact Rochelle Diver at [email protected]
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UN Plastics Treaty Negotiations Stall and With No Path Forward in Sight
The International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Plastics, International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples Event, held in Room XII at Palais des Nations where the first UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations met on August 9th,1982, co-hosted by IIPFP and the INC Co-Chair, Luis Vayas, August 9th, 2025. Photo credit: Dylan Kava
Geneva, Switzerland: On Friday August 15th at what was intended to be the final session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC 5.2) to develop a legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution, including the marine environment, INC Chairman Luis Vayas (Ecuador) abruptly declared the session concluded. This closing plenary took place at 5:30 AM. The Chairman declared that no consensus had been reached on a text by the States. He did not announce any future negotiations. The United Nations began work on the “Plastics Pollution Treaty” in 2022 in recognition of the negative impacts on human and environmental health worldwide.
The International Indian Treaty Council’s (IITC) delegation to INC 5.2 included Indigenous representatives from the North and Central America, the Pacific and Africa regions. IITC, other Indigenous Peoples delegations from all regions, allied organizations and many State representatives who are committed to an effective Plastics Treaty were shocked and very disappointed by the abrupt end of the “final” INC, with no way forward announced.
“This is a major setback for Indigenous Peoples whose health, ecosystems, traditional food sources and ways of life are undermined by plastics pollution. This failure is also tied to climate change since plastics are produced from petroleum, a main driver of the climate crisis” stated Rochelle Diver, Anishinaabe. Rochelle led the delegation as IITC’s Environmental Treaties Coordinator. Rochelle was also selected for a 2nd time to serve as co-chair of the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Plastics (IIPFP), the Indigenous Peoples caucus established for negotiation and representation in this process.
Although there was strong support from some States, mainly the Pacific Island Developing States (PSIDS), but also from members of the “High Ambition Coalition” made up of 120 States, other oil producing states opposed meaningful solutions that would address the full lifecycle of plastics. The United States and Kuwait forced the shutdown of the closing plenary session, successfully silencing Indigenous Peoples, scientists and civil society organizations who were prepared to deliver closing statements.
Indigenous Peoples from 6 socio-cultural regions were active and persistent in the negotiations and presented proposals to Member States, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the INC Chair. They emphasized the need to incorporate and safeguard the rights of Indigenous Peoples in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in the Preamble and Operative Paragraphs of this new international instrument.
IITC along with other Indigenous Peoples who committed time and resources in this process deeply regret that the participating States failed to reach agreement on a treaty that could provide meaningful and measurable change. IITC remains committed to this process, and awaits the UN’s announcement of the next steps to continue the negotiations. Juan Leon, Maya K’iche, IITC’s Biodiversity and Human Rights Program Coordinator also participated in IITC’s delegation to INC 5.2. After the abrupt closing of the final plenary he confirmed that “it is necessary and urgent to have a treaty that benefits and guarantees life, human rights, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples. But the work on this Treaty must transcend the interests of powerful countries and industries that prioritize their business interests over life and seek to dictate global policies to serve their own economic benefits”.
For more information, please contact Rochelle Diver at [email protected]