ঢাকারবিবার , ৯ অগাস্ট ২০২৬
In a powerful act of protest, Greenpeace activists turned the streets of Geneva black with symbolic “oil” on Tuesday to expose the fossil fuel industry’s grip on the final Global Plastics Treaty negotiations. The demonstration took place outside the Palais des Nations, where world governments are convening for critical talks aimed at curbing plastic pollution.
Twenty-two activists from across Europe — including Belgium, France, Germany, and Switzerland — climbed onto the building’s roof and unfurled massive banners. One banner targeted fossil fuel lobbyists participating in the talks, while another boldly stated: “Global Plastics Treaty Is Not For Sale.”
The protest draws attention to the increasing presence of fossil fuel and petrochemical lobbyists at treaty negotiations. According to the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), over 220 petrochemical lobbyists registered for the fifth round of talks (INC-5) in Busan — a 12% rise from the previous round in Ottawa, Canada. These lobbyists now outnumber the entire EU delegation.
Graham Forbes, Head of Delegation for Greenpeace International and Global Plastics Campaign Lead at Greenpeace USA, condemned the situation:
“Each round of negotiations brings more oil and gas lobbyists into the room. Fossil fuel and petrochemical giants are polluting the negotiations from the inside, and we’re calling on the UN to kick them out.”
Greenpeace and CIEL have jointly submitted a letter to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the INC secretariat, urging them to ban fossil fuel lobbyists from all future treaty discussions.
Environmental groups argue that the fossil fuel industry’s growing influence is undermining progress. If the treaty is weakened, global plastic production could triple by 2050 — further fueling environmental damage, climate change, and health risks.
A recent Greenpeace UK report revealed that companies like Dow, ExxonMobil, Shell, and SABIC have expanded plastic production by 1.4 million tonnes since treaty negotiations began in November 2022. Together, these firms have produced enough plastic to fill approximately 6.3 million garbage trucks — or more than five trucks every minute. Dow alone is estimated to have profited US$5.1 billion from plastics during this time, while deploying at least 21 lobbyists to treaty talks.
“This is a battle for our survival,” Forbes emphasized.
“Corporate polluters that created this problem must not be allowed to stop the world from solving it. Governments must show courage and deliver a strong treaty that puts people and planet first, not short-term corporate profits.”
As negotiations continue in Geneva, environmental advocates warn that the integrity of the Global Plastics Treaty hangs in the balance — and so does the planet’s future.
