“Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates.
In the last 50 years, global use of materials has nearly quadrupled from 28.6 billion tonnes of materials in 1972 to surpassing 100 billion tonnes in 2019, and if business as usual prevails, the material use may increase to between 170 and 184 billion tonnes in 2050.
This rapid acceleration of consumption where over 90% of all materials extracted and used are wasted, and only 8.6% of materials make it back into the economy, is a real threat to the planet’s future and consequently humans and the environment.
Although SIDS only account for just 1.56% of the global mismanaged plastic waste volume, the average waste generation per person in SIDS of 2.3kg per day is 48% higher than the world’s average.
For small island developing states, this higher than global average waste volume, poses a significant problem especially for our small island developing states with limited economic resources and fragile environments, underscoring the critical need and urgency for focused waste management and reduction initiatives.
The triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change and plastic pollution is primarily the doing of the bigger polluter states and economies, so let us not add more problems for ourselves for we are already on the forefront of these impacts.
Samoa like all SIDS is grappling with escalating levels of waste and in response, is supporting initiatives geared towards transitioning to a Circular Economy. A key focus of these efforts is on combating plastic waste, which constitutes a significant portion of our waste output.
Samoa recently instituted a ban on single-use plastic bags and straws, which came into effect in 2019. This initiative reflects Samoa’s dedication to sustainability and responsible waste management practices. However, much more work is needed, and plans are underway to integrate circular economy principles into national strategies. In addition, Samoa is in the process of formalizing an Import Waste Levy to finance recycling efforts, fostering collaboration between government, private sector, and civil society for sustainable waste management.
At the fourth INC meeting held in Ottawa, Canada in April this year, AOSIS advocated for a comprehensive international legally binding instrument that addresses the full life cycle of plastic polymers and plastic pollution, with an effective means of implementation that includes a robust financial mechanism to support initiatives, technology transfer, technical assistance, and capacity building for SIDS.
I wish to commend the examples set by Mauritius, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, PNG, Barbados, Marshall Islands, Seychelles, Samoa and many others who have banned various forms of single-use plastics including importation of polystyrene. Theses SIDS are taking proactive steps to address plastic pollution through various policy measures, demonstrating strong leadership and environmental stewardship, paving the way for others to follow.
Samoa acknowledges the significant contributions of the 3R and Circular Economy Forum since its inception in 2009, providing a platform for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to collaborate on solid waste management and zero-waste initiatives.
To conclude, I would like to re-emphasize the importance of this consultation process as an opportunity for all of us to shape the future direction of our collective efforts in sustainable development through the sound management of waste. With the recent discussions in INC 4 fresh in our minds and the upcoming SIDS 4 on the horizon, gathering inputs and feedback on the Pre-Zero Draft of the new Declaration is crucial. By leveraging potential synergies between the new Declaration and SPREP’s Second Phase of Strategies, we can chart a course towards effective 3R and waste management solutions for Pacific SIDS countries in support of our national priorities. Let us seize this moment to collaborate, innovate, and drive meaningful change as we work towards a more sustainable and resilient future.
I thank the co-organizers UNCRD-DSDG/UN DESA and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). I acknowledge also the support by the SWAP Project, JPRISM III and the EU SWITCH Asia Projects for making this consultation process possible.
SOIFUA MA IA MANUIA”
Michael Archangel Tamanikaiyaroi and others