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– Plastic treaty talks overwhelmed by industry lobbyists
– Fossil fuel firms outnumber scientists at INC‑5.2
– Petrochemical “corporate capture” threatens plastics treaty
As INC‑5.2 unfolded in Geneva from August 5–14, 2025, alarm bells rang over the soaring influence of industry voices in the negotiations for a landmark global plastics treaty. A new analysis by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) reveals that at least 234 fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists—more than double the count of independent scientists—were actively present at the talks, representing the largest single delegation and outstripping groups like Indigenous communities.
These industry representatives included heavyweights like Dow, ExxonMobil, and the American Chemistry Council, with multiple lobbyists embedded directly within national delegations of Egypt, Kazakhstan, China, Iran, and several others.Environmental advocates warn that this overwhelming presence isn’t harmless. Instead, it’s seen as a well-honed strategy of obstruction, distraction, misinformation, and intimidation—similar to tactics previously deployed in UN climate negotiations.
This corporate capture threatens to water down the treaty by shifting focus from reducing plastic production—widely backed by over 100 countries—to softer, industry-friendly approaches like recycling and waste management. Without urgent action to curb such influence and protect scientific integrity, negotiators risk adopting a diluted, ineffective agreement at a time when bold climate responses are critical.