The Ministers began their day with a high-level Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) briefing at Palais des Nations, Geneva, joining heads of delegations from the membership’s 39 small island developing states.
Over the coming days, they will participate in a ministerial programme that includes informal roundtables and bilateral engagements designed to promote open exchanges on national efforts to combat plastic pollution. These discussions, while not formally part of the INC process, are expected to be vital in building political momentum toward an agreement.
Speking to delegates at the briefing as Chair of AOSIS, Palau’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment, Honourable Steven Victor, underscored both the urgency and the frustration felt by many SIDS representatives.
“For too many of us here today, this isn't our first time we’ve travelled far and wide fighting for our islands and an end to plastic pollution,” Minister Victor said. “We've been in this process for three years—three years advocating, negotiating, hoping. Now we have a mere 3 days left.”
But with key sections of the treaty still unresolved, the mood in the negotiating rooms remains tense. Minister Victor acknowledged that progress has been slow and urged AOSIS to take ownership of the process and make the difficult compromises necessary to break the stalemate.
“As ministers and heads of delegation, it’s on us to make the hard decisions that unlock the political blockages paralysing these talks. As Palau, we have always pushed for the highest ambition in every process. In fact, as SIDS, we have consistently and historically been the most ambitious voices in these rooms, despite our limited resources. Now is the time to lean in and find a way forward.”
Minister Victor was joined by Tuvalu’s Minister for Home Affairs, Climate Change, and Environment, Honourable Maina Vakafua Talia, at the briefing. The Ministers were accompanied by:
-H.E Ambassador Siddiq Koya, Fiji’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Non-Resident Ambassador of Fiji to the State of Qatar
-H.E Ambassador Frederick Pitcher, Nauru’s Permanent Representative to the UN and other International Organisations in Geneva
-H.E. Ambassador Ilana Seid, Palau’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations
-H.E. Ambassador Sumbue Antas, Vanuatu’s Permanent Representative to the UN and other International Organisations in Geneva
More than 70 Ministers and Deputy Ministers, as well as some 30 high-level representatives from UN's membership are taking part in the Ministerial programme in the final 3 days of the negotiations.