With millions of tons of plastic produced each year and waste fueling environmental and climate concerns, the Global Plastics Treaty represented a pivotal step toward ending plastic pollution. Countries recently concluded the resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) in Geneva, Switzerland, where governments worked thoroughly to advance the draft treaty text, along with civil society, the private sector, and international organizations. The Geneva round of treaty talks had been expected to conclude negotiations and deliver the final draft of an internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. However, despite intensive efforts, negotiations ended without consensus, leaving uncertainty about the next steps.

This webinar unpacked the latest developments from the negotiations and explored what the treaty, as it took shape, could mean for Asia and the Pacific. The discussion also highlighted opportunities for countries to align with global standards, promote sustainability goals, and examine pathways for financing, innovation, and regional cooperation, looking at how ADB could support countries in accelerating the transition toward a circular plastics economy.

Speaker 

Roger Joseph (Rocky) Guzman | International Governance, Policy, and Legal Specialist (Consultant), Asian Development Bank

Rocky is an environmental lawyer and policy specialist with an extensive background in ocean issues. He has held positions in various nonprofits and international organizations where he led projects from marine conservation and plastic pollution to fisheries management and strengthening environmental rights. Rocky obtained his Master of Environmental Policy at Duke University and is the Deputy Director of the Asian Research Institute for Environmental Law.