Delegates from nearly 180 countries have convened in Geneva for the sixth and likely final round of United Nations negotiations aimed at establishing a legally binding global treaty to address plastic pollution. The treaty talks come amid growing evidence of the harmful impacts of plastics on human health and the environment, with health-related economic losses estimated to exceed $1.5 trillion annually. Plastic production, primarily fueled by petrochemicals derived from petroleum, coal, and gas, is projected to triple by 2040 without intervention, exacerbating ocean pollution, climate change, and health risks. However, progress on the treaty has been hindered by deep divisions among nations. Oil-producing countries and the United States oppose caps on virgin plastic production, advocating for voluntary measures instead, while the European Union and island nations push for binding limits. A leaked memo from the Trump administration urges countries to reject production caps in the treaty draft. The current treaty text reportedly contains over 370 unresolved points. Environmental groups and health experts emphasize the urgent need for a comprehensive approach that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics, but negotiations have stalled amid lobbying from petrochemical interests. The World Health Organization has called for health to be central in the treaty discussions. Despite the urgency, the chair of the negotiations has warned that insufficient progress has been made midway through the talks, raising concerns about the treaty's potential to effectively curb plastic pollution.