Prof. Bethanie Carney Almroth, an ecotoxicologist, reported harassment and intimidation by representatives of a large US chemical company and a plastic packaging company during UN-hosted plastics treaty negotiations in Ottawa, Canada. She described a pattern of harassment including surveillance, and noted that industry lobbyists far outnumber national delegations and scientists at these meetings. Multiple sources describe a "total infiltration" of the negotiations by vested industrial interests, with concerns about undue influence on the UN Environment Programme (Unep).

The negotiations, aiming to create a global treaty to curb plastic pollution, are stalled due to disagreements over production caps. Over 100 nations, supported by over 1100 scientists, advocate for a cap, while petrostates and plastic manufacturers oppose it, promoting better waste management instead. David Azoulay, a senior attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law (Ciel), criticized Unep's approach, questioning the trustworthiness of industry actors as partners in solving the problem they created. Criticism has also been leveled at Unep Executive Director Inger Andersen for statements perceived as undermining the importance of a production cap and for alleged pressure on high-ambition countries. Saudi Arabia, a major oil producer and plastic manufacturer, is highlighted as a key obstacle to progress.

The sheer number of industry lobbyists, significantly exceeding national delegations and scientists, raises concerns about skewed decision-making and the sidelining of scientific evidence. This imbalance is further exacerbated by the lack of a conflict of interest policy and financial barriers to participation, favoring wealthy industrial interests over smaller countries, scientists, and NGOs.

Impact Statement: The influence of industry lobbying and harassment during the UN plastics treaty negotiations threatens to weaken the treaty's effectiveness, potentially hindering global efforts to address the plastic pollution crisis.