CODAF was represented at the just concluded INC 5.2 in Geneva, wherecivil society organizations (CSOs) played a vital role in shaping the discourse around the development of a legally binding plastics treaty. The strength in their voices showed the urgent need to prioritize human rights, and  environmental justice approaches over industry narratives that seek to dilute ambition and delay progress.

 The demonstrations of CSOs represented  highlighted the disproportionate impacts of plastic pollution on frontline communities, especially in the Global South, and insisted that the negotiations must be centered around the lived realities of those most affected.

A key lesson learned is that solidarity among CSOs is essential. Standing in solidarity with one another presenting a unified position, the CSOs community exemplified their influence and counteres the dominance of corporate lobbyists and pushed for negotiators to recognize justice-based alternatives. Another lesson is the power of clear and consistent messaging framing plastics not just as a waste issue but as a systemic crisis linked to fossil fuels, climate change, and toxic pollution. CSOs also discovered that continuous presence and engagement at every stage of negotiation is critical to maintaining visibility, credibility, and pressure.

The Geneva experience reaffirmed the importance of transparency, capacity building, and knowledge sharing within civil society spaces. It also revealed the need for strategic alliances with sympathetic states to advance ambitious outcomes. Despite setbacks, CSOs proved resilient, innovative, and steadfast, reminding the process that real solutions lie in upstream interventions, not false corporate fixes. Ultimately, INC 5.2 demonstrated that grassroots voices remain a decisive force in demanding a strong, just, and people-centered global plastics treaty.