Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Women Engage for Common Future @wecf.org · 1d

We are at the #GlobalGateway Forum, now being opened by #EU president Ursula von der Leyen, speaking to Heads of State, Ministers, Business reps and a handful of CSOs: she insists that in time of geopolitical tensions, transactionalism and isolation it is essential Europe invests in partnerships

1 2

Reposted by Women Engage for Common Future

saschawecf.bsky.social @saschawecf.bsky.social · 1d

#GlobalGateway EU investment projects should apply highest standards #humanrights, #gender equality #environmental protection, transparency & #accountability: too often investors polluted local communities’ lands & water but got away with it: great insights from partner Kaisha, ARGO net Central Asia

1 2

Women Engage for Common Future @wecf.org · 1d

1 year after #CBDCOP16 the Summit of Women Biodiversity Defenders in #Cali #Colombia was a great success with 500 women over 2 days! We are glad we could share our congrats and inputs!

1 2

Women Engage for Common Future @wecf.org · 1d

Our ecofeminist partner from CSO ARGO network Central Asia spoke today at Eurodad/CONCORD’s event to inform European press and policy makers on Global Gateway’s impacts on the ground in advance of the High Level #GG Forum this week link.europa.eu/Fdr74d

1 2

Reposted by Women Engage for Common Future

Lisa van de Voort @lisavdvoort.bsky.social · 3d

PFAS vervuilen ons drinkwater, tasten de natuur en dieren aan en leveren gezondheidsklachten op. Alternatieven bestaan allang, daarom tekende @wecf.org dit manifest. Tij voor een PFAS-stop. #stopPFAS #banPFAS

European Environmental Bureau🍃 @eeb.org · 3d

The EU is at a critical crossroads, revising a future-proof REACH and adopting an ambitious universal PFAS restriction

Today, more than 100 organisations launched the #StopPFAS manifesto, urging EU leaders to support a universal PFAS restriction – not just partial bans

banpfasmanifesto.org/en/

1 2

Reposted by Women Engage for Common Future

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 7d

Efforts by Brussels to dilute the bloc's chemical laws are undermining the European Union's credibility as a "global leader in green policy and the rule of law," a top UN human rights official Marcos Orellana has warned.

UN human rights expert slams EU chemical deregulation push

Special Rapporteur Marcos Orellana writes that a European Commission proposal “seems to conflict” with basic “rights to health and environmental protection.”

www.politico.eu

2 7 27

Women Engage for Common Future @wecf.org · Aug 21

🌱 New Just Forests Stories is out—this time from Cameroon!

In Ngounso-Magba, CAMGEW is making sure girls get to go to school while also supporting women through eco-businesses.

👩‍🏫 This year, 120 girls who weren’t in school before now have access to education.
#JustForests #EnvironmentalEducation

1

Women Engage for Common Future @wecf.org · Aug 20

🌍 Not sure what the EU Green Deal is? We’ll break it down.
💻 Webinar: Our Future, Our Green Deal
📅 18 Sept ’25 | 17:00 CEST

Explore it through an #ecofeminist lens + get our free Youth Toolkit.

Sign up here: www.wecf.org/event/%f0%9f...

#EUGreenDeal #ClimateJustice #Sustainability

2 3

Women Engage for Common Future @wecf.org · Aug 15

We will continue to urge world leaders to advance a strong agreement that limits plastic production and protects people's health, human rights, and the environment.
At the same time, we persist in our efforts to ensure it addresses the gender dimensions of the plastics problem.

Break Free From Plastic @breakfreefromplastic.org · Aug 15

The second part of the fifth round of #PlasticsTreaty negotiations has adjourned after a haphazard process that extended the negotiations for an extra day, but ended without a clear agreement on the path forward.

Read our Press Release to learn more:
www.breakfreefromplastic.org/2025/08/15/c...

2

Women Engage for Common Future @wecf.org · Aug 15

Petrostates block plastic treaty. 39 small island states (Sids) frustrated at “repeatedly returning home with insufficient progress to show our people … It is unjust for Sids to face the brunt of yet another global environmental crisis we contribute minimally to.” www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Plastic pollution talks fail as negotiators in Geneva reject draft treaties

Countries deadlocked on whether legally binding deal should include curbs on production and toxic chemicals

www.theguardian.com

1 1

Women Engage for Common Future @wecf.org · Aug 15

Plastic negotiations without agreement. CIEL:”Some countries did not come here to negotiate a text but to block the treaty” “Certains pays ne sont pas venus ici pour finaliser un texte, mais pour faire le contraire : bloquer toute tentative…” www.franceinfo.fr/environnemen...

Lutte contre la pollution plastique : les négociations en vue d'un traité international ont échoué, la France fait part de sa "colère"

Malgré une prolongation des discussions à Genève, les différentes délégations n'ont pas réussi "à trouver un consensus", empêchant tout accord final, ont fait savoir plusieurs délégués.

www.franceinfo.fr

1 1

Women Engage for Common Future @wecf.org · Aug 15

#INC5.2 negotiations for a treaty to ‘end plastic pollution’ ended without agreement after 11 days of negotiations — WECF “it is better to have no treaty than a bad treaty without options for improvememt! The proposed text was too weak on production reduction and health!” apnews.com/article/plas...

Plastic pollution treaty talks in Geneva end without an agreement

Talks on a treaty to address the global crisis of plastic pollution in Geneva ended without an agreement Friday.

apnews.com

1 1

Reposted by Women Engage for Common Future

IPEN: toxics-free @toxicsfree.bsky.social · Aug 14

In Agence France Presse/France24, a story notes that today, in one of the most economically fragile countries on the planet, plastic is everywhere: lining the streets, strewn across beaches, clogging the drains.
Read more here: www.france24.com/en/live-news...

Plastic pollution plague blights Asia

Kulsum Beghum sorts waste at a landfill in Dhaka. Her blood contains 650 microplastic particles per millilitre, according to an analysis funded by a waste pickers' union.

www.france24.com

2 5

Reposted by Women Engage for Common Future

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · Aug 14

The European Union and dozens of other countries have poured scorn on the new draft of a work-in-progress treaty to end plastic pollution, claiming the text is too weak and cedes too much ground to oil producers.

Dozens of countries reject ‘unacceptable’ draft plastic treaty text

“Our red lines and red lines of the majority of countries represented in this room were not only stomped, they were spat on and they were burned.”

www.politico.eu

2 31 75

Reposted by Women Engage for Common Future

Friends of the Earth International @foeint.bsky.social · Aug 15

⚡PRESS RELEASE Plastics Treaty negotiations extended as majority of countries stand up for ambition, process undermined by corporate interests

#INC52 has closed and FoEI leaves with determination in the fight against plastic pollution, for peoples and the planet.

bit.ly/3HqztuA

INC-5.2 Outcome: Plastics Treaty negotiations extended

Plastics Treaty negotiations extended as majority of countries stand up for ambition, process undermined by corporate interests.

bit.ly

6 11

Reposted by Women Engage for Common Future

IPEN: toxics-free @toxicsfree.bsky.social · Aug 15

ICYMI – this was IPEN’s statement on the updated Chair’s Text released in the early morning hours of August 15: stoppoisonplastic.org/blog/updated...

This morning, the plenary has adjourned without an agreement on the path forward.

Please stay tuned for an update from IPEN.

The image shows three people standing side by side holding protest signs above their heads. Each is wearing an IPEN t-shirt that reads: "Protect our HEALTH Ban Toxic Plastic Chemicals"

The signs say:
Left: "END PLASTIC POLLUTION"
Middle: "FIX THE PROCESS"
Right: "KEEP YOUR PROMISE"

They are indoors and the Plastics Treaty in Geneva, and their expressions are serious and determined.

1 3

Women Engage for Common Future @wecf.org · Aug 13

The #plasticpollution treaty negotiations have arrived at absolute low point, with a proposed text that is not even a global treaty - only voluntary reporting - and that has deleted key parts on protecting #health and human rights from toxic #chemicals in plastics! WECF, IPEN, WMG are demonstrating!

1 2

Women Engage for Common Future @wecf.org · Aug 12

The negotiations for a global treaty to end #plastic pollution at #INC5 are going into their 2nd and final week, the Women’s Major Group with WECF France wears pink for a legally binding treaty and civil society are holding silent actions to call on delegate’s courage against fossil fuel bullies!

1 1

Reposted by Women Engage for Common Future

GENeva Environment Network @genevaenvironmentnetwork.org · Aug 11

#BehindTheScenes #INC5.2

Capturing the creation and reception of The Thinker's Burden, artist Benjamin von Wong & his team produced a documentary on the artwork at the frontlines of the global #PlasticsTreaty negotiations.

🔸 www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWFe...

1 2 3

Reposted by Women Engage for Common Future

Health Policy Watch - Global health news reporting @healthpolicywatch.bsky.social · Aug 10

Fossil Fuel Lobbyists Swarm ‘Last Chance’ UN Plastics Treaty Talks

“The treaty meant to stop plastic pollution is being shaped by those who profit from it.” @dylankava.bsky.social [email protected]

✍️ @stefananderson.bsky.social

@toxicsfree.bsky.social @thelancet.com @greenpeace.org

Fossil Fuel Lobbyists Swarm ‘Last Chance’ UN Plastics Treaty Talks - Health Policy Watch

Fossil fuel and petrochemical lobbyists have descended on UN plastics treaty negotiations in record numbers, as delegates from over 180 countries attempt to

healthpolicy-watch.news

2 3

Reposted by Women Engage for Common Future

IPEN: toxics-free @toxicsfree.bsky.social · Aug 11

The IPEN #PlasticsTreaty INC-5.2 team is working hard in Geneva to push for a Treaty that protects human health for all, as #PlasticsPoison our health and future generations.
Read our latest update on the negotiations here: stoppoisonplastic.org/blog/press-s...

#plastictreaty #plasticchemicals

Press Statement: Midway Through the Plastics Treaty Negotiations, Protecting Health Must Take Center Stage - IPEN International Pollutants Elimination Network

Geneva, Switzerland - Midway through the Plastics Treaty negotiations scheduled to end this Thursday August 14, IPEN notes that concerns for the threats

stoppoisonplastic.org

3 5

Reposted by Women Engage for Common Future

GENeva Environment Network @genevaenvironmentnetwork.org · Aug 12

#BehindTheScenes on Day 8⃣ of #PlasticsTreaty #INC5.2!

Welcomed by a silent manifestation in Palais des Nations, delegates and observers continue to advance work in various closed informal meetings and contact groups.

▶️ tiny.cc/GENINC5-2

1 2 7

Reposted by Women Engage for Common Future

Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe) @paneurope.bsky.social · Aug 12

🍞 A new study reveals alarmingly high levels of #TFA in everyday cereals and cereal products. The findings point to widespread contamination from #PFAS #pesticides, showing TFA levels three times higher than in a comparable study from eight years ago
www.pan-europe.info/press-releas...

New Study Reveals Alarming Levels of ‘Forever Chemical’ TFA in bread, pasta, and breakfast cereals

PAN Europe and Global 2000 call for an immediate ban of PFAS pesticides A new study reveals alarmingly high levels of the ‘forever chemical’ trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in everyday cereals and cereal ...

www.pan-europe.info

9 9

Women Engage for Common Future @wecf.org · Aug 9

#Plastic pollution contains toxic chemicals, its a global threat to #health & #environment, which is why we need a legally binding #treaty, follow us to find out what is happening at the #INC5.2 negotiations in Geneva! Our colleagues are there holding the line for human rights and #gender equality

2 1

Women Engage for Common Future @wecf.org · Aug 9

Civil Society calling on delegates to ‘fix the process’ to achieve an agreement on a global treaty that will protect health and future generations at the #INC5.2 here with WECF France, IPEN and the Women’s Major Group!

1 2