Samoa, as Chair of AOSIS, flags special circumstances of SIDS at plastic treaty talks
As officials and negotiators sift through the revised draft text of the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) has reiterated that the instrument must take into account the special circumstances of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The point was raised by Samoa, as the Chair of AOSIS, during opening plenary of INC-4 underway at the Shaw Centre, Ottawa Canada, from 23 to 29 April 2024.
The special circumstances of SIDS in relation to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and plastic pollution, refers to their small size and small economies which makes them inherently susceptible to external economic and financial shocks.
The plastic pollution crisis has placed Pacific communities at the forefront of impacts despite the region’s measly contribution of 1.3 per cent to global statistics.
Kathleen Taituave, ACEO of Samoa’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), who delivered the statement, said AOSIS recognises the pivotal role the proposed agreement will play to address yet another environmental crisis SIDS are disproportionately affected by but contribute minimally to.
“It is well established that SIDS have special circumstances given our geographic challenges, limited resources and vulnerabilities to external economic shocks,” Taituave said. “As SIDS we are on the frontlines of the triple planetary crisis of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss, and the risks to our livelihoods, economies, health, and environment.”
Samoa reiterated AOSIS’s commitment to the work to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, saying they welcome the revised zero draft as the basis for negotiations.
The revised zero draft being placed under the microscope in Ottawa is the result of three contact groups established during INC-3 in Nairobi last year, to consider the original zero draft, and a synthesis report on previously undiscussed elements.
The revised zero draft contains options for treaty text organised in five sections pertaining to: Primary provisions, including the preamble, objectives, principles, and scope; Management of plastic along its lifecycle, including primary polymers, product design, and waste management, as well as extended producer responsibility, trade, and existing pollution; Means of implementation, including financing, capacity building, and technology transfer; tracking implementation, including through reporting, compliance, and international cooperation; and Institutional arrangements, including governing and subsidiary bodies and a secretariat.
SIDS have repeatedly called for an ambitious, effective and equitable international legally binding Instrument that addresses a full life-cycle approach to end plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
On Monday at the Shaw Centre, Taituave told the INC membership that the agreement must be supported by new, additional, adequate, and predictable means of implementation.
“This must include a robust financial mechanism, which advances just transition and provides specific support provisions for SIDS, including priority access to fast tracked resources, technology transfer, technical assistance and capacity building,” she said.
“An effective instrument for SIDS means that there must be comprehensive regulation of hazardous, problematic, and avoidable chemicals and polymers used in plastic production, and plastic products, including single use plastics and microplastics – where the strength of the obligations should depend on the level of harm.
“We must also consider the possibility of cooperating and/or coordinating with existing relevant frameworks or conventions, as appropriate. Global harmonised standards in key areas will be essential to ensure high ambition, as well as inclusive and transformative actions by all.”
Pacific SIDS calls for global solidarity in addressing the plastics crisis, asks for high ambition
Vanuatu, speaking on behalf of the 14 Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), has made a call for the international community to work together in fulfilling its mandate to have an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution by the end of the year.
Chair of PSIDS and Vanuatu’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, His Excellency Odo Tevi said that time was running out and effective cooperation was critical in progressing the mandate.
“While we acknowledge the complexities of respecting the views of all states, the extensive and interconnected challenges posed by pollution to people and the planet demand urgent attention from the entire international community,” Ambassador Odo said.
“Our special circumstances as SIDS may make us different, but they do not take away our potential to partner as equals, collaboratively pursuing mutually beneficial outcomes for our countries, people, and the future we desire”.
Ambassador Tevi told the plenary that Pacific Island delegates travelled a great distance to participate in the negotiations, attesting to the importance of these talks for PSIDS and re-emphasising the PSIDS commitment to, “ending plastic pollution and defending our beautiful island States from further environmental harm”.
Plastic waste has been found in all areas of the planet, from the deepest seas to the most remote uninhabited islands. It causes major harm to wildlife and ecosystems, disrupts the livelihood of millions of people, and poses significant risks to human health.
Currently, there are approximately 16,000 chemicals known to be used in plastics, yet only around six percent of these chemicals associated with plastics are regulated under existing multilateral environmental agreements, to which not all countries are party.
“The Stockholm Convention only covers Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and takes several years to list new POPs meeting specific criteria. The Minamata Convention and Montreal Protocol solely address the chemicals used in plastic production, and the Basel Convention focuses on products, rather than chemicals or plastic polymers, only regulating the trade of plastic waste. So, at the global level, there is no binding instrument that regulates plastic polymers,” Ambassador Odo said.
This is why PSIDS is calling for reductions in primary plastic polymers and overproduction of plastic products, including the prevention of harmful chemicals from being used in the production of plastics and a criteria for sustainable design and traceability of chemicals.
“Criteria for sustainability must consider the full life cycle analysis of plastics, taking into account the potential impacts on the environment, economic, socio-economic cultural and human health impacts, including for food security as well as impacts in the marine environment,” Ambassador Odo said.
“We stress, however, that downstream measures will not be enough to tackle plastic pollution if we do not address plastics overproduction upstream,” the Ambassador added.
In March 2022, at the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) in Nairobi, 175 nations agreed to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, by the end of 2024. The short timeline for negotiations was meant to match the urgency of the problem.
The INC is scheduled to complete its work in five sessions before the end of 2024. It has met three times in the last two years: November 2022 in Uruguay, May 2023 in France, and November 2023 in Kenya.
