UN Plastics Treaty Chair Resigns Amid Allegations of Pressure

On October 7, 2025, it was reported that Luis Vayas Valdivieso, the chair of the stalled UN plastics treaty talks, is preparing to step down from his position. Valdivieso confirmed that he is resigning, citing "some challenges in the process."

The announcement of Valdivieso's resignation is expected to be made at a UN meeting on Tuesday, with an official statement expected by Thursday. This development comes after the collapse of global talks in August, where negotiators failed to agree on a treaty to address the growing issue of plastic pollution.

Sources have indicated that Valdivieso's work has been obstructed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which is headed by executive director Inger Andersen. Allegations suggest that UNEP staff held a covert meeting with civil society groups, intended to pressure the chair to step down.

Valdivieso has defended his work, stating that the treaty process has "achieved very important goals" so far. However, the chair's sudden resignation leaves the future of the plastics treaty in an even more uncertain position, raising questions about the governance of the process.

The collapse of the August talks was met with criticism, as the draft text released by Valdivieso was rejected by the majority of negotiators. The text was described as the "lowest common denominator" and failing to address key issues, such as plastic production limits and hazardous chemicals in plastics.

Valdivieso's resignation is a stark reminder of the challenges and dysfunction that have plagued the plastics treaty negotiations from the beginning. Restoring trust in the process will be crucial if there is to be any hope of reaching a meaningful outcome in the future.