Pacific island delegations press for an ambitious, legally binding plastics treaty at Geneva talks
Delegates from 14 Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) arrived in Geneva to press for a bold, comprehensive treaty to end the global plastic pollution crisis. Meeting on 1 August ahead of the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2), Pacific representatives made clear they will not accept compromises that leave their futures at risk.
PSIDS leaders urged negotiators to adopt a treaty that covers the full lifecycle of plastics—from raw material extraction and production through to design, use and disposal—arguing that focusing only on waste management or clean-up is insufficient. Pepetua Latasi, Chair of PSIDS and Tuvalu’s Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Home Affairs, Climate Change and Environment, said the Pacific’s identity, economy and survival have been repeatedly harmed by plastic pollution, and called on the world for “courage, ambition and accountability.”
The Geneva preparatory meeting — convened to sharpen regional priorities, refine negotiating strategies and build consensus — comes after the INC’s previous round in Busan ended without consensus. Outstanding issues include whether the treaty should limit production as well as waste, and the scale and form of financial support for implementation in vulnerable states. Anthony Talouli, Director of Waste Management and Pollution Control at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), said the Pacific delegation is united and prepared for long negotiations, noting broad international support for a treaty that limits plastic production.
Context and stakes
Since 1950 an estimated 11 billion tonnes of virgin plastic have been produced globally; annual production rose from roughly 2 million tonnes in 1950 to 504 million tonnes in 2022. At current trajectories, production could triple by 2060. Negotiators are therefore debating upstream measures such as caps or reductions in production as well as downstream measures like waste management and recycling.
The INC-5.2 session is scheduled for 5–14 August 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The Pacific delegation to these talks includes the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Their participation is supported by the Government of Australia and the United Nations; Australia has been engaged in regional preparatory work and funding projects such as the Pacific Ocean Litter Project to help build local capacity.
Additional context and implications
– The Pacific argues that a lifecycle approach is essential because cleanup alone cannot stop plastics from entering the ocean and food chains; upstream measures reduce the volume of new plastic entering the system.
– Financial and technical support for Small Island Developing States is central to the Pacific position, given limited waste infrastructure and disproportionate impacts from imported and marine plastic debris.
– A legally binding treaty that includes production limits, transparency and accountability mechanisms would aim to shift global systems toward reduced plastic creation and safer design, benefitting both environment and public health.
Suggested elements for publication
– Lead image: Pacific delegates or a shoreline littered with debris, captioned to highlight the Pacific’s stakes in the negotiations.
– Pull quote suggestion: “Do not ask the Pacific to compromise on its future.” — Pepetua Latasi.
– Tags: Plastic pollution, UN treaty, Pacific Islands, INC-5.2, marine environment, SPREP, Australia.
Summary
Pacific Small Island Developing States met in Geneva to coordinate positions ahead of INC-5.2, pressing for a legally binding, life-cycle treaty on plastics. They emphasized that limiting plastic production, securing finance and ensuring accountability are non-negotiable for protecting the region’s environment, economies and communities.
Hopeful perspective
The Pacific delegation’s unity and clear demand for high ambition add momentum to global negotiations. With growing international recognition of the limits of recycling and cleanup, a treaty that pairs upstream production controls with support for vulnerable nations could produce meaningful, long-term reductions in plastic pollution and protect ocean-dependent communities.
Comments and logical explanation
– Why lifecycle matters: Addressing production and design reduces the flow of plastics that later become waste and microplastics. Upstream limits make downstream solutions (recycling, waste management) more feasible and less costly.
– Why finance and capacity-building are crucial: Even the best treaty commitments require on-the-ground systems—collection, treatment, enforcement—that many SIDS currently lack; predictable funding will determine whether obligations become reality.
– What to watch at INC-5.2: negotiations on production controls, reporting/transparency rules, and the structure and scale of a financial mechanism for implementation.
Editorial note
This report integrates details from the Pacific preparatory meeting in Geneva and related regional engagement to provide context on the Pacific’s negotiating priorities and the broader stakes of INC-5.2.
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