Bangladesh has formally rejected the latest draft of the proposed Global Plastics Treaty in Geneva, arguing that it falls short of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolution 5/14 mandate to establish a legally binding international instrument to end plastic pollution.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the draft is “a weak outcome,” as it excludes supply-side measures and does not address the full life cycle of plastics. The ministry highlighted gaps in coverage, including health impacts, chemicals of concern, the waste hierarchy, and strong obligations to tackle transboundary plastic pollution.
Officials also criticized the draft’s reliance on a “convoluted and voluntary approach,” calling it inadequate to address the urgency of the global plastic crisis. The ministry emphasized that the treaty must focus on harmful chemicals in plastics and account for emissions and primary plastic production, citing the clear link between plastics and human health risks.
“This draft does little to protect human health and the environment from plastic pollution. It is essentially a waste management framework, failing to create responsibility for plastic producers or binding measures to phase out the most harmful plastics,” the ministry said.
Bangladesh urged negotiators to raise ambition in line with the UNEA mandate, stating that without meaningful amendments, it cannot support the current draft.
