Pacific Small Island Developing States rally as Geneva talks near deadline, saying new draft text falls short of protecting communities
With only about 30 hours remaining in the resumed fifth session of negotiations on a global plastics treaty, Pacific Small Island Developing States have voiced deep disappointment with a newly released draft they say fails the communities it is meant to safeguard. The streamlined Draft Text Proposal was issued by Chair Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso of Ecuador after more than a week of closed-door negotiations among 184 countries, leaving delegates with limited time to scrutinize the language before a plenary discussion.
Critics from PSIDS and their allies described the draft as unacceptable, unbalanced, and not a viable basis for further negotiation. Key provisions that appear in earlier iterations were dropped in this version, including the article on production; there is no explicit mention of chemicals; and a reference to addressing the full life cycle of plastics has been removed. Pepetua Latasi, PSIDS chair and Tuvalu’s Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Home Affairs, Climate Change and Environment, warned that the omissions threaten the treaty’s balance, fairness, and effectiveness and could fail to shield people, cultures, and ecosystems from plastic pollution. “Many of our red lines have been crossed,” Latasi said.
Steven Victor, Chair of the Alliance of Small Islands States and Palau’s environment minister, echoed the concern, warning that the text lacks ambition. He stressed that finalizing an agreement merely for the sake of finalizing it does not reflect the reason delegates have traveled to Geneva. Panama’s lead negotiator, Juan Carlos Monterrey Gómez, dismissed the draft as not a genuine basis for negotiation, describing their red lines as having been “spat on and burned,” and adding that this is not ambition but surrender. The European Union likewise called the proposal not acceptable, criticizing it for lacking clear, robust, and actionable measures, while Kenya noted the absence of global binding obligations on anything.
Facing the pushback, INC chair and the chairs’ team proposed regional consultations later in the evening and a Heads of Delegation meeting on Thursday morning, with the plan to craft a second iteration of the draft overnight after those consultations. More than 3,700 participants from 184 countries are attending the talks at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, which were scheduled to wrap up the following day.
Context and stakes beyond this week’s discussions are substantial. The negotiations trace back to UNEA Resolution 5/14, which calls for a comprehensive, legally binding instrument to address plastic pollution across its full life cycle—from fossil fuel extraction and production to end-of-life management. Advocates argue that a lifecycle approach, including upstream measures that limit production and design, is essential to reduce the quantity of plastic entering ecosystems and food chains rather than relying solely on cleanup efforts. The Pacific states have consistently argued that financial and technical support for vulnerable nations is critical to implementing any treaty, given limited waste-management infrastructure and disproportionate exposure to imported and marine debris.
Observers note that the current draft’s fate will influence the trajectory of INC-5.2, which began in Busan in late 2024 and continues a multi-session process that has included negotiations in locations such as Uruguay, France, South Korea, and Nairobi. The Pacific position has been reinforced by regional allies and international partners, including SPREP and Australia, which have supported regional preparatory work and capacity-building efforts. The High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, representing many donors and developing states alike, has consistently pressed for a treaty that binds production, includes transparent reporting, and provides a sustainable financing mechanism for implementation.
Analysts say the intensifying debate underscores a broader recognition: cleanup alone cannot solve the plastic crisis. A treaty that couples production controls with strong financial and accountability mechanisms could help shift global systems toward reduced plastic creation and safer design, benefiting environment and public health.
What to watch next
– The second draft: Overnight discussions and a Heads of Delegation meeting are intended to yield a revised text. Look for restoration of core provisions on production, chemicals, and lifecycle considerations.
– Regional consultations: The process aims to balance inclusivity with efficiency. Expect renewed calls for broad regional input before any further drafting rounds.
– Financing and capacity-building: Expect debate over the scale and structure of financial support for vulnerable states, including how funds are mobilized, disbursed, and audited.
– Timeline: With INC-5 concluding soon, negotiators will be under pressure to demonstrate tangible progress and a credible path toward a legally binding instrument.
Editor’s take
The Pacific bloc’s stance reflects a clear demand: any treaty must address plastic production at its source and provide practical means for vulnerable nations to implement its terms. The current pushback signals that negotiators are unlikely to accept a text that only tackles waste management or fails to include measurable, enforceable commitments. A successful outcome would require reconciling ambitious upstream measures with realistic financing, transparent accountability, and meaningful regional participation. If the second draft can reinsert a robust lifecycle approach and a credible implementation mechanism, it could reinvigorate momentum and offer a tangible path to reducing plastic pollution while safeguarding the unique needs of island communities.
Summary
As Geneva braces for a critical turnaround, Pacific negotiators insist that a future-facing treaty must curb plastic production, address chemicals and lifecycle considerations, and ensure strong funding and accountability. The outcome of the upcoming revisions will shape whether INC-5.2 can deliver a legally binding instrument capable of delivering real, long-term protections against plastic pollution for vulnerable states and their communities.
Positive note
Despite the current disagreements, the ongoing talks reflect broad global recognition that effective action requires ambition, cooperation, and durable frameworks. A renewed, stronger draft could signal a meaningful shift toward reducing plastic pollution at its source and safeguarding oceans, health, and livelihoods for generations to come.
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