The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) convened a preparatory coordination meeting this month to refine group positions ahead of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) for a legally binding global agreement on plastic pollution. The negotiations will reconvene in Geneva, Switzerland, in August 2025.
Representing the Cook Islands, Tekura Moeka‘a, Environment Policy and Planning Manager at the National Environment Service (NES), joined fellow delegates from across AOSIS to help shape a unified and ambitious position on behalf of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The coordination meeting focused on the INC Chair’s revised draft text issued on 1 December 2024. AOSIS reaffirmed strong support for legally binding obligations across several key provisions—particularly those related to product design (Article 5), waste management (Article 8), releases and leakages (Article 7), and remediation (Article 9). These articles are seen as essential to upstream interventions that prevent plastic pollution at its source and reflect long-standing SIDS advocacy for high-ambition, science-based solutions grounded in equity.
However, consensus within the group remains open on Article 3 (Plastic Products), Article 6 (Sustainable Production and Consumption), and Article 11 (Financial Mechanism). These provisions are complex and central to the treaty’s operational strength and ability to deliver support to developing countries.
The Cook Islands currently serves as the lead coordinator for the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) on Articles 3 and 6. In this role, the Cook Islands has played an instrumental part in fostering convergence among Pacific voices and ensuring that regional positions are effectively reflected in broader AOSIS deliberations.
“There were two cross-regional proposals tabled in Busan addressing the scope and definitions under Articles 3 and 6,” said Ms. Moeka‘a. “It’s clear we’ll need to draw a line at some point on what we can and can’t compromise on—especially when it comes to protecting the integrity of Pacific priorities. For us, that means clear restrictions on problematic plastic products and systems that support a just transition away from unsustainable production.”
As negotiations advance toward their final stages, AOSIS continues to advocate for a treaty that provides clear and enforceable obligations, recognizes the special circumstances of SIDS, and ensures access to financial and technical support mechanisms that enable full implementation. AOSIS has also emphasized the need for equity-based timelines, robust monitoring and compliance frameworks, and flexibility for national contexts, particularly for resource-constrained island states on the frontlines of the plastic pollution crisis.
The Cook Islands delegation remains committed to ensuring Pacific perspectives are embedded in the final treaty text and to working closely with regional and international partners to secure a strong and effective outcome at INC-5.2
