While the new draft was more ambitious and improved than the one this gathering began with, it still violated some of the “red lines” that each country brought with them to Geneva, explained Magnus Heunicke, Denmark’s environment minister and holder of the rotating presidency of the Council of Europe.

“To be very clear, a compromise means that we have to bend our red lines,” he said.

Another contentious issue has been the framework of negotiations here (and in prior meetings on the subject): Being aimed at consensus, the current shape of negotiations requires that for any proposal to be included in the treaty, unanimous agreement is required.

This pathway has the support of India, which believes consensus is critical for the treaty to be effective, alongside Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait and Vietnam, which hold similar views.

However, some nations have suggested that proposals be put to the vote if consensus cannot be reached.

Graham Forbes, Greenpeace’s chief delegate in Geneva, urged a shift towards voting, stating, “We are going in circles. We cannot continue to do the same thing and expect a different result”, as the meeting neared the end on Friday.

Final reactions

Representatives from Norway, Australia, Tuvalu and several other nations expressed deep disappointment at departing Geneva without a treaty. As Madagascar remarked, the world “is expecting action, not reports from us”.

European commissioner Jessika Roswall was more optimistic, noting that while the draft fell short of expectations, it still provided a constructive foundation for future negotiations. “The Earth is not ours only. We are stewards for those who come after us. Let us fulfil that duty,” she said.