Magnus Løvold

An excellent article — a must-read for all #INC negotiators

World leaders united in defence of international humanitarian law to uphold humanity in war

“We reaffirm that all states, including in situations of occupation, are bound to fully respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law” —  🇧🇷🇨🇳🇫🇷🇯🇴🇰🇿🇿🇦 with @icrc.org announce high-level conference to uphold humanity in war in 2026 www.icrc.org/en/statement...

Government of Colombia Announces First International Conference for the Phase-Out of Fossil Fuels — The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative During the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, Colombia proudly announces its plan to host the First International Conference for the Phase-Out of Fossil Fuels in April 2026. The ...

Building on the legacy of the #MineBanTreaty, the #ClusterMunitionsConvention, and the #TPNW, Colombia 🇨🇴 is stepping up to host a major international conference on phasing out fossil fuels. A new Oslo/Ottawa moment is on the horizon. Way to go! fossilfueltreaty.org/phase-out-co...

Palace intrigues The plastics treaty talks in Geneva ended without a deal. As negotiators weigh their options about the way forward, troubling questions are…

After the Geneva round of the #PlasticsTreaty talks ended without a deal, troubling questions are being raised about the role played by @unep.org Executive Director Inger Andersen — and an apparent bid to topple the Committee’s elected Chair medium.com/points-of-or...

Palace intrigues The plastics treaty talks in Geneva ended without a deal. As negotiators weigh their options about the way forward, troubling questions are…

💣 An excellent analysis of the #PlasticsTreaty 's Whistledown (aka @magnuslovold.bsky.social) of what happened behind the scenes at the end of #INC5.2. Once again, important questions are raised about the role of UNEP, which seems to support a low-ambition treaty #Plastics
medium.com/points-of-or...

#PlasticsTreaty recap post Geneva 🇨🇭

Ambassador Vayas takes the pen in high-stakes plastics treaty endgame GENEVA, 13 August 2025 — Nobody but those directly involved knew exactly what was going on as the plastics treaty negotiations entered…

If consensus falters, countries will have to decide whether to call for a vote or leave with failure.

By Friday, we’ll know if the world acted — or let the plastics crisis run on medium.com/points-of-or...

The progressive majority may seize the moment. Spoilers like 🇸🇦 and 🇷🇺 are expected to push back. Heavyweights 🇺🇸, 🇨🇳, 🇮🇳, 🇧🇷 could try to retake control.

The High Ambition Coalition’s #HAC move will be watched closely 👀

The draft arrives with less than 48 hours left of the process. Financing measures may close to agreement, but the treaty’s core — what countries must do — is still up in the air. Delegates are bracing for a fight over ambition.

🇺🇳 #PlasticsTreaty endgame, Geneva.
This afternoon, Ambassador Luis Vayas of Ecuador will table his own “compromise text” — a make-or-break move to break the deadlock and push the talks towards a deal to end plastic pollution. 🧵

A Strong Plastics Treaty Will Help Solve Plastic Pollution, With or Without Big Plastic Producers In Geneva, 178 countries have gathered to finalize a treaty to end plastic pollution, but the negotiations are stalled. A supermajority…

New blog post! Here at the #plasticstreaty negotiations, some countries are arguing for a weak treaty on the grounds that plastic producing countries won't join a strong one. Here's a short rebuttal: medium.com/@climatesail... 🧵

How (Not) to Make a Plastics Treaty - Update from Geneva Stream How (Not) to Make a Plastics Treaty - Update from Geneva by Plastisphere Podcast on desktop and mobile. Play over 320 million tracks for free on SoundCloud.

… And they’re back! PlastiSphere’s host @anjakrieger.bsky.social interviews the close observer and analyst of the Plastic Treaty Negotiations, @magnuslovold.bsky.social, to get a read on where things stand half-way through this supposedly last session (INC-5.2) of those negotiations.

How (Not) to Make a Plastics Treaty - Update from Geneva The podcast on plastic, people, and the planet by @anjakrieger. Plastics have become the basis for our modern lives, but they also pollute the planet. Will we be able to develop a healthy relationshi

Five days into the last round of #plasticstreaty negotiations, @magnuslovold.bsky.social and I got together to discuss where we stand. Listen here 🎧

#INC52
on.soundcloud.com/E1eFAK5VLUZF...

Hi #INC5👋 from 1972 when the @washingtonpost.com ran this lede: “We are all just a little bit plastic now.” 😮‍💨
.
Said the White House’s Council on Env Quality, “I know this is going to be a significant future issue… potentially our next bad one.” Re: #phthalates

#plasticstreaty

Ink Wars, Episode 5.2 — Return of the Brackets GENEVA, 8 AUGUST 2025: If the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on plastic pollution had a face, it would mirror mission commander…

Six days left.
The #PlasticsTreaty talks are — again — drowning in brackets.
Take control of the pen. Or watch the deal disappear into a black hole.
medium.com/points-of-or...

As UN plastic treaty talks face possible deadlock, what are the ways forward? Historically, most United Nations agreements have been reached by consensus. But based on recent events, this no longer seems likely for achieving a fully effective global treaty on plastic pollution,...

Nice piece on #plasticstreaty dynamics and the possible ways toward an effective treaty news.mongabay.com/2025/07/as-u...

The Consensus Syndrome An effective treaty on plastic pollution will require countries to break the long-standing spell of consensus — and finally put decisions to a vote.

I explore how majority-driven diplomacy could rescue the plastics treaty—and multilateralism itself—in my new piece for Backchannel, a great new Substack for commentary, intelligence, and analysis on climate diplomacy, geopolitics & the energy transition.

substack.com/home/post/p-...

This could change in Geneva.

A clear majority of countries back a treaty to phase out the most harmful plastics and chemicals.

If they stand firm and use the tools they already have, they can deliver a strong, binding agreement.

Majority voting is standard in global health, human rights, even nuclear disarmament.

But in environmental forums, it’s a taboo.

Consensus rules allow a handful of petrochemical and fossil fuel states to hold the planet hostage.

For decades, environmental diplomacy has followed what Arild Underdal called the law of the least ambitious programme:

Agreements shaped not by the “ayes” of the majority but by the “nays” of the least committed.

On 5 August, the final act of the #PlasticsTreaty negotiations resumes in Geneva.

The big question? Not what’s in the treaty, but whether negotiators will have the courage to move ahead without spoilers. 🧵

Questionable incentives Why is the CEO of the world’s largest demining organisation defending banned landmines?

The story — written by journalist @emmaanne.bsky.social — raises tough questions about the perverse incentives at play in mine action.

Emma reached out @thehalotrust.bsky.social for comment. They declined.

Read the full story: spoileralerts.substack.com/p/questionab...

“It’s highly disturbing,” says the director of @minefreeworld.bsky.social

Others in the sector describe Cowan’s logic — “don’t worry, we’ll clean it up later” — as deeply cynical.

Some fear he’s legitimising landmine use in a moment of real danger.

Cowan’s comments come as Finland, Poland & others signal plans to withdraw from the Mine Ban Treaty.

He’s argued for so-called “non-persistent” mines — but these still harm civilians, often fail, and are banned for a reason.

Other NGOs are pushing back hard.

Why is the CEO of the world’s largest de-mining NGO defending landmines?

James Cowan of @thehalotrust.bsky.social has publicly supported the shipment of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine — even suggesting the Mine Ban Treaty should be revised 🧵

France spent €90,000 countering research into impact of Pacific nuclear tests Documents suggest campaign to discredit revelation that tests contaminated many more people than acknowledged

If there was ever any doubt why France 🇫🇷 tried to stop @who.int from revisiting the health impacts of nuclear war at #WHA78 last night—this is why.

For decades, France & other nuclear powers have tried to bury the truth about these weapons @jonhenley.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

WHO Mandated To Update Of 30-Year-Old Review On Health Impacts Of Nuclear War - After Heated WHA Debate - Health Policy Watch For the first time since the 1990s, the World Health Organization has been asked by member states to update its assessment on the health impacts of nuclear

Thanks Oliver! The resolution was approved this afternoon by a margin of 84-14, with 28 abstentions healthpolicy-watch.news/who-gets-man...

Great piece by @magnuslovold.bsky.social Watch this space on whether nuclear allies are willing to support international efforts by @who.int to examine the effects of a nuclear war on health and health services. is.gd/RMMhLu

"This is not a technical debate. It is a defining moment for international law — and for the future of warfare. At its core, it is about our capacity as a species to master the technologies we create." #AutonomousWeapons #KillerRobots

Cover of the episode published May 8, 2025, titled How (Not) to Make a Plastics Treaty - Nothing is Agreed Until Everything is Agreed

Did the #plasticstreaty negotiations fail? Not so fast! The process is far from over.

For an update on where we stand and what’s to come, listen to the new plastisphere.earth episode 🎧

You'll hear from
💡 @magnuslovold.bsky.social
🦸Chris Dixon @eia-news.bsky.social
🧢 @andresdelcas.bsky.social