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Despite a lack of space for interventions and restricted access throughout the process, Indigenous Peoples, frontline and fenceline communities, waste pickers, workers, scientists, and civil society have consistently brought their views into the heart of these corporate-heavy negotiations. Their knowledge, experience, and expertise have been instrumental in shifting the narrative on plastic pollution from a narrow focus on marine litter to a widespread affirmation that plastic pollutes throughout its entire life cycle. Their work highlighted countries’ duty to place human health and human rights at the core of the treaty negotiations.
Unfortunately, there is no denying that these entire negotiations have been captured by the petrochemical industry. An investigation by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) tracked an increasing number of fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists registered to participate in each round of Plastics Treaty negotiations, culminating in 234 lobbyists at INC-5.2. These estimates are likely conservative as only those lobbyists who openly disclose their connections were counted.
