Following the collapse of United Nations negotiations for a global plastics treaty, Germany’s Left Party parliamentary group has voiced criticism of the German government’s perceived lack of ambition during the talks.
Mareike Hermeier, spokesperson for the circular economy, stated that the government’s efforts within the negotiating group were “pale and yielded no results – ambitious words were not translated into binding rules”. She further argued that insufficient effort was demonstrated in the federal budget allocation, noting a lack of dedicated funding for circular economy initiatives, recycling programs and the development of a functional recycled plastics trade. “Those who do nothing domestically lose credibility internationally” Hermeier added, suggesting a close alignment between the government and corporate interests benefiting from the ongoing crisis.
Regarding the failed negotiations, Hermeier emphasized that a treaty without binding limits on plastic production and regulations covering the entire lifecycle of plastics is effectively worthless. She asserted that lobbying power from the petrochemical industry outweighed concerns for human health, biodiversity and the environment.
Dirk Messner, President of the German Environment Agency (UBA), described the outcome as a “sad day for the planet and humanity” telling the “Handelsblatt” newspaper that a unique opportunity to reverse the global plastic pollution crisis had been missed. He warned that the failure would have negative consequences for oceans, soils, food security and public health.
Messner explained that a small number of countries had blocked the will of “the great majority” adding that this lost opportunity would come at a significant cost to future generations. The United Nations has been attempting to reach an agreement to curb the global flow of plastic waste since 2022, with the most recent round of negotiations concluding in Geneva on Friday without a consensus.
