Why small climate-vulnerable island states punch well above their weight in UN climate talks – The Conversation

Report on the Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis) and its Role in Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Aosis as a Catalyst for Global Climate Action

The Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis), a negotiating group of 39 small island and low-lying coastal states, has demonstrated significant influence in international climate diplomacy. Despite operating without a formal charter or permanent secretariat, Aosis has been instrumental in shaping global climate policy, directly contributing to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action). Its members, who are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, have leveraged their collective voice to advocate for ambitious climate targets and mechanisms that support sustainable development in the face of existential threats like rising sea levels and extreme weather events.

Operational Framework and Contribution to SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Aosis exemplifies the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through its unique operational model. It functions as a cooperative alliance, enabling member states to overcome the limitations of their small size and resources.

Method of Operation

• Consensus-Based Negotiation: Aosis develops joint positions through frequent meetings and consensus-building, ensuring a unified front in major international forums.
• Resource Pooling: Members pool technical expertise and diplomatic resources, allowing even the smallest states to engage effectively in complex global negotiations.
• Rotational Leadership: The role of chair rotates among member states’ UN representatives, promoting shared ownership and diverse leadership.

This collaborative framework has been crucial for amplifying the voices of vulnerable nations and ensuring their concerns are central to the global climate agenda, thereby strengthening global partnerships for sustainable development.

Key Achievements in Advancing Global Sustainability

Aosis has a track record of significant diplomatic victories that have advanced several SDGs, including SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Major Diplomatic Successes

1. The 1.5°C Target: Aosis was the primary advocate for limiting global warming to 1.5°C, a target now central to the Paris Agreement. This ambition is critical for the survival of its member states and the protection of marine ecosystems (SDG 14), embodying the core objective of SDG 13. The alliance’s “One-point-five to stay alive” campaign successfully framed the target as a moral and existential imperative.
2. Institutional Representation: The alliance has secured designated seats on key UN climate bodies, including the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund. This achievement strengthens global governance and ensures that the institutions responsible for climate finance and policy are more inclusive and responsive to the needs of vulnerable countries, aligning with SDG 16.
3. Loss and Damage Fund: Aosis championed the concept of a fund to address climate-related loss and damage for over three decades, culminating in its establishment in 2022. This fund is a critical mechanism for promoting climate justice and supporting resilient communities (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities) by providing financial assistance to nations recovering from climate disasters.

Leveraging International Law for Climate Justice (SDG 16)

Aosis members have extended their advocacy into the realm of international law, reinforcing SDG 16 by promoting the rule of law at the international level. Led by Vanuatu, the alliance successfully campaigned for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on states’ climate change obligations. The resulting ruling confirmed that states have legal duties to reduce emissions and protect populations from climate harm. This legal precedent strengthens accountability and provides a powerful tool for holding major emitters responsible for their contributions to the climate crisis.

Strategic Priorities for COP30 and Future SDG Implementation

At the upcoming COP30 summit, Aosis will continue to advocate for policies that accelerate the implementation of the SDGs. Its agenda is focused on three critical areas.

COP30 Agenda

• Enhanced Emissions Reductions: Citing the ICJ ruling, Aosis will demand that all nations submit revised climate plans that are legally robust and aligned with the 1.5°C target, directly addressing the core of SDG 13.
• Strengthened Climate Adaptation: Aosis is calling for clear targets and improved tracking of finance under the Global Goal on Adaptation. This is vital for protecting its communities, infrastructure, and marine environments from unavoidable climate impacts, supporting SDG 11 and SDG 14.
• Increased Climate Finance: The alliance is urging developed countries to meet and exceed climate finance targets, as outlined in the “Baku to Belém Roadmap.” Predictable and accessible finance is essential for small island states to implement their climate plans and build a sustainable future, reinforcing the global partnership for sustainable development under SDG 17.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 13: Climate Action

This is the central theme of the article. The text revolves around the diplomatic efforts of the Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis) to combat climate change. It discusses key climate agreements like the Paris Agreement, the 1.5°C global warming target, the need for emissions reduction, climate finance, adaptation to climate impacts, and the establishment of the loss and damage fund. The entire narrative focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The article highlights the role of Aosis as a strong and effective institution representing vulnerable nations. It details how this alliance, despite having no formal charter, has successfully influenced global climate policy. Furthermore, it discusses the use of international law and justice mechanisms, specifically the campaign for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) “on states’ obligations to tackle climate change,” to hold polluting nations accountable.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Aosis is described as a “negotiating group” and an “alliance” that “works through consensus and cooperation among its members.” This embodies the spirit of partnership. The article explains how 39 small island states pool their “technical expertise and diplomatic resources” to achieve common goals in the international arena. Their engagement in the UN climate summits (COPs) and their collaboration to influence global agreements are prime examples of partnerships for sustainable development.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

While not the primary focus, this goal is implicitly connected. The article states that Aosis members are “small island and low-lying coastal states” who are “among the most vulnerable to rising seas.” Sea-level rise is a direct threat to the marine and coastal ecosystems that these nations depend on for their survival and economy, linking their climate struggle directly to the health of the oceans.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

SDG 13: Climate Action

1. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

   The article explicitly mentions that Aosis members are vulnerable to “rising seas and extreme weather” and that “adaptation to climate change is becoming increasingly critical for island nations already living with rising seas and stronger storms.” Aosis is actively “calling for clearer targets and better tracking of adaptation finance.”

2. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

   The article discusses the Paris Agreement, under which countries are required to submit “revised climate plans.” It notes that Aosis is pushing for “greater commitments to reduce emissions” and stressing that “stronger targets are not just necessary but legally required,” which directly relates to integrating climate measures into national planning.

3. Target 13.a: Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible.

   The article directly references climate finance, mentioning Aosis’s role in securing seats on the boards of the “Green Climate Fund” and “Adaptation Fund.” It also highlights Aosis’s demand for developed countries to “triple the volume of public climate finance by 2035” to meet a “US$1.3 trillion (£1 trillion) target.”

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

1. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

   This target is addressed through the discussion of Vanuatu’s campaign for the “International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue an advisory opinion on states’ obligations to tackle climate change.” The article notes that the ICJ’s ruling affirmed that states have “legal duties to reduce emissions,” thereby using international law to seek climate justice.

2. Target 16.8: Broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance.

   The article provides a clear example of this by stating, “Aosis has secured designated seats on key climate bodies, including the UN bureau that supports the summits, and boards of the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund and Clean Development Mechanism.”

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

1. Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries, in particular developing countries.

   The entire function of Aosis as described in the article is an example of this target. It is an alliance where members “meet frequently to develop joint positions” and are “pooling technical expertise and diplomatic resources that would otherwise be out of reach for many small states.”

Indicators for Measuring Progress

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Indicator for Target 13.2 (Implied): The number and ambition of submitted Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The article provides data for this indicator, stating that “only 86 have been submitted, out of 197” and “less than a quarter are in line with the Paris agreement’s temperature goals.”
• Indicator for Target 13.a (Implied): The total amount of climate finance mobilized by developed countries. The article mentions a specific financial goal Aosis is pushing for: a “US$1.3 trillion (£1 trillion) target” under the “Baku to Belém Roadmap.”
• Indicator for Target 13.1 (Implied): The operationalization of funds for climate adaptation and recovery. The article points to the establishment of the “loss and damage fund” as a measurable outcome of Aosis’s long-term advocacy.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Indicator for Target 16.8 (Implied): Proportion of positions in international organizations held by developing countries. The article provides a qualitative measure by listing the specific “designated seats on key climate bodies” that Aosis has secured.
• Indicator for Target 16.3 (Implied): Existence of independent national human rights institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles. At the international level, the successful campaign for an ICJ advisory opinion serves as an indicator of progress in using legal mechanisms to uphold international obligations.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theconversation.com