3 December 2023, Dubai UAE - The dire report card for the health of the planet, whereby communities in Small island developing states (SIDS) from the Pacific, Caribbean, African, Indian Ocean and South China Seas are at the immediate forefront of the climate crisis impacts, is not lost on Samoa as the Chair of the Alliance of Small Islands States (AOSIS).
But as world leaders and delegates meet in Dubai for the latest round of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP28), Samoa says members of AOSIS remain hopeful that COP28 would lead to stronger and bolder climate actions.
“We came here with the hope, we came here crossing our vast oceans with a message of hope that this conference will deliver on much needed outcomes,” said Samoa’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Hon. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster. “Collective action is what we need now. We need to move faster towards climate resilient societies.
“The task can seem daunting, but not impossible. We must lean into international cooperation and multilateralism to pave the way at this COP for these new development pathways.”
Hon. Toeolesulusulu was speaking during the G77 and China Leaders’ Summit on Climate Change held during the ongoing COP28 in Dubai on Saturday. The Summit for the largest intergovernmental organisation of developing countries in the United Nations, was opened by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Antonio Guterres, who reiterated that the final fight to keep 1.5 degrees alive is on.
“We are battling for climate justice. These are fights we can win,” Mr Guterres said. “This COP can win with a double objective: maximum ambition on mitigation and maximum ambition in relation to climate justice, namely taking into full account the interests of developing countries. What we must avoid at all costs is a compromise based on minimum ambition on mitigation and minimum ambition on climate justice.”
The AOSIS Chair agrees and reminded world leaders of the IPCC findings which point to climate change impacts occurring faster and with greater fury.
“The aftermath of any climate event is never an easy thing to witness. We have seen how countries, in particular SIDS, have lost decades of development within a matter of hours,” said Hon. Toeolesulusulu. “As an islander I am witnessing the change brought about by the climate crisis every day and as a leader of a small island country I remain hopeful that we can and will overcome this together. While the world we live in is experiencing many economic, political and social problems, we should never forget that climate change is a key risk multiplier.”
According to Samoa’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, one of the most important outcomes for SIDS at COP28 is the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund.
“We witnessed on the first day of this COP the historic landmark decision to establish the Loss and damage fund. We also welcome and commend those countries who have made pledges towards the capitialisation of the fund and encourage others to do the same before we leave Dubai,” said Hon. Toeolesulusulu. “Ultimately, through this fund we will complete the essential missing piece of the climate finance architecture.”
The Alliance of Small Island States also reminded the Summit that accessing climate finance continues to be a daunting and long-winded process, where countries and partners have failed to deliver on promises they have made.
“I urge us to remain united as we work toward finalising the New Collective Quantified Goal negotiations. This new target needs to be fit to meet current world conditions, including differentiating the nature of finance flows. To this end, AOSIS is advocating for sub goals on mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage within the overarching goal to ensure better transparency and accountability.”
The IPCC report says the world is not on track to reach the 1.5C temperature goal. The Global Stoctake synthesis report fully supports this assessment. With that in mind, Hon. Toeolesulusulu said: “High ambition on mitigation measures coupled with adaptation interventions that are fully supported is the only thing that will get us to 1.5C. Without these efforts, we will be moving away from what we all agreed to in Paris.
We must see a strengthened commitment, particularly from major emitters for accountability on achieving the mandate and delivering on the elements of the Glasgow Climate Pact and Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan.
“We call for a phase out of fossil fuels in line with the best available science and the principles and provisions of the Paris Agreement. Setting a target for tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030 would send a clear and needed signal to markets and investors but it cannot be a substitute for a stronger commitment to fossil-fuel phase-out.”
The Group of 77 Plus China is the largest intergovernmental organisation of developing countries in the United Nations, which provides the means for the countries of the South to articulate and promote their collective economic interests and enhance their joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues within the United Nations system, and promote South-South cooperation for development.
Since 1990, AOSIS has represented the interests of the 39 small island and low-lying coastal developing states in international climate change, sustainable development negotiations and processes. As a voice for the vulnerable, its mandate is more than amplifying marginalised voices as it also advocates for these countries’ interests.
At COP28, Samoa as Chair is continuing this work.
The 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP28) in Dubai, UAE is taking place from Thursday 30 November 2023 – Tuesday 12 December 2023.
It is being attended by Pacific leaders and their delegations, who are advocating for the survival of Pacific communities who continue to be at the forefront of climate change impacts.
A key part of amplifying the One Pacific Voice at COP28 is the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion, which is a Pacific partnership with Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. Another key part of the Pacific’s work at COP28 is the Pacific Delegation Office, which is Pacific partnership with Aotearoa New Zealand. Both the Moana Pacific Pavilion and the Pacific Delegation Office are managed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).