AOSIS
AOSIS Statement
at the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting for the CSD15 New York
26 February ? 1 March 2007
Delivered by H.E. Mr Enele S Sopoaga
Ambassador and Special Adviser to the Permanent Mission of Tuvalu to the United
Nations
AOSIS Position Paper on Climate Change ?CSD 15
Mr Chairman
I have the honour to deliver the AOSIS position paper on climate change on behalf of the
43 members of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
Challenges
The threat of global climate change represents the most serious environmental and
development challenge confronting SIDS. The adverse effects of climate change, and
associated phenomena including sea-level rise and the increase in frequency and
intensity of hurricanes, cyclones and other weather events threaten the sustainable
development, livelihoods and existence of SIDS, despite our negligible contribution to
the problem. For many SIDS dangerous climate change is already occurring.
With the release of Part I of 4th Assessment Report of the IPCC and the Stern Review
there is now scientific certainty that the opportunity to avoid irreversible and potentially
unimaginable damage to the climate system will be lost if urgent and ambitious action is
not taken. AOSIS seeks the proper inclusion of the following policy points in the final
outcome of the CSD15:
Policy Options
Adaptation to the climate change is a major priority to SIDS and to this end the
international community must:
o Fully implement all commitments on climate change contained in the BPOA and
the MSI
o Support SIDS in the development and implementation of national climate change
action plans through the provision of new and additional resources, technical
assistance and capacity building.
o Assist SIDS to incorporate climate change adaptation concerns in national
sustainable development plans.
o Provide technical and financial resources to assist SIDS to strengthen national
and regional national climate change coordination mechanisms such as the
Caribbean Community Climate Change Center (CCCCC), and the Pacific
Climate Change Roundtable
o Support cooperation for information sharing on adaptation technologies,
development and transfer between African, Indian Ocean, Caribbean and Pacific
SIDS
o Provide technical and technical support in areas of disaster preparedness, risk
management and disaster mitigation.
o Develop new financial arrangements including a SIDS climate change funding
facility to provide insurance to SIDS to recoup losses due to the impacts of
climate change and sea level rise.
o improve access to, and transfer of, environmentally sound technology related to
climate change
o maximize SIDS access to and use of the Clean Development Mechanism, in order
to promote renewable energy sources and energy efficiency to achieve
substantial technology transfer
Mitigation and adaptation go hand and hand. In this regard the international community
must:
o fully implement the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol
o mobilize the widest public opinion and the strongest political leadership on
future actions against climate change
o take further urgent action to reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions,
including through the development and increased use of renewable energy
including wind, solar, biomass and wave action
o Give the highest priority to completing negotiations on a post-2012 Commitment
Period by December 2008. The outcome of these negotiations should:
o acknowledge historic contributions to present GHG concentrations in
the atmosphere
o lead to the achievement of substantial emission reductions in the shortest
time frame possible stressing the need for substantial action through
domestic policies, measures and action
o significantly increase the level of resources available to developing
countries, particularly SIDS, that is separate and apart from traditional
ODA to assist these the most vulnerable countries to adapt to the adverse
impacts of climate change bearing in mind the recently released finding of
Sir Nicholas Stern of the UK that delaying action will only increase the
costs for adaptation
Comments on SG?s report
1. It is critical that the recommendations highlight the fact that implementation
must be a priority. All too often, assistance to developing countries is only
provided to identify capacity constraints and needs, as well as to develop
activities and projects. If real and tangible benefits are to be realized, action must
be taken and implementation of assessments and project activities is essential.
2. Any support being offered to SIDS needs to be both technical and financial in
nature. There is reference in the document to ?low-cost and negative-cost
adaptation measures? for SIDS and LDCs, this should be removed. Vulnerable
countries require assistance in implementing all types of adaptation options;
support should not be limited only to low-cost options. Additionally, lower cost
options are usually based on best-case scenarios while responding to the negative
impacts of climate change in almost all cases can only be served through the
application of worst-case scenarios.
3. The paragraphs on adaptation are very general and are based on a series of
assumptions that are not specified, but are critical for effective implementation.
As an example, para 25 on agriculture references ?? basic adaptation measures,
such as altering planting dates and cultivar choices ??. It asserts that these
should be promoted, but does not make any reference to the lack of capacity in
developing countries to do this. For such adaptation to occur, it will have to be
preceded by significant capacity building and technology transfer activities in the
form of research and development ? none of which are mentioned in the
document.
4. The paragraphs on climate change mitigation and energy (paragraphs 13 ? 16)
focus on finding ways to continue using fossil fuel by making it cleaner and/or
more efficient. The discussion focuses on carbon dioxide capture and storage
(para 13 and 14), energy efficiency (para 15), clean coal (para 16) and emissions
trading and offsetting (para 17, 19). It is important to find and promote
innovative ways to make fossil fuels less carbon intensive and more efficient as it
remains the cheapest mean of producing energy for many SIDS. However, these
innovations must not be at the expense of support for SIDS. Carbon dioxide
capture and storage is still in its infancy as a technology that could provide an
alternate to emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It must first be proven
that it is a good option for mitigation by being rigorously monitored for leakages
to prove that the storage capabilities are permanent. Only when enough sites
have being scrutinized and the monitoring procedures documented and properly
reviewed can the technology be ready to be considered for the CDM. This will
require another 3-5 year for complete verification. SIDS can support CSS for
mitigation but not for CDM at this time.
5. These recommendations do not address the critical issue of reducing carbon
dioxide emissions from source by finding alternatives to carbon dioxide and does
not even once consider the use of any form of renewable energy e.g. wind, solar,
ocean thermal, biofuels and the like.
Finally, Mr Chairman, the issue of SIDS participation in the CSD and climate change
processes has to be addressed. We appeal for those who are able to do so to provide the
necessary support to ensure full representation of SIDS in the CSD and UNFCCC
processes. Similarly, we appeal that CSD avoids the overlapping of its meetings with
other important meetings such as the CSD15 and the next meetings of the subsidiary
bodies of the UNFCCC next May.
Once again, SIDS and the proper representation of our concerns are being marginalized
and undermined, and we urge that the matter is addressed, and avoided in the future.
Thank you
at the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting for the CSD15 New York
26 February ? 1 March 2007
Delivered by H.E. Mr Enele S Sopoaga
Ambassador and Special Adviser to the Permanent Mission of Tuvalu to the United
Nations
AOSIS Position Paper on Climate Change ?CSD 15
Mr Chairman
I have the honour to deliver the AOSIS position paper on climate change on behalf of the
43 members of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
Challenges
The threat of global climate change represents the most serious environmental and
development challenge confronting SIDS. The adverse effects of climate change, and
associated phenomena including sea-level rise and the increase in frequency and
intensity of hurricanes, cyclones and other weather events threaten the sustainable
development, livelihoods and existence of SIDS, despite our negligible contribution to
the problem. For many SIDS dangerous climate change is already occurring.
With the release of Part I of 4th Assessment Report of the IPCC and the Stern Review
there is now scientific certainty that the opportunity to avoid irreversible and potentially
unimaginable damage to the climate system will be lost if urgent and ambitious action is
not taken. AOSIS seeks the proper inclusion of the following policy points in the final
outcome of the CSD15:
Policy Options
Adaptation to the climate change is a major priority to SIDS and to this end the
international community must:
o Fully implement all commitments on climate change contained in the BPOA and
the MSI
o Support SIDS in the development and implementation of national climate change
action plans through the provision of new and additional resources, technical
assistance and capacity building.
o Assist SIDS to incorporate climate change adaptation concerns in national
sustainable development plans.
o Provide technical and financial resources to assist SIDS to strengthen national
and regional national climate change coordination mechanisms such as the
Caribbean Community Climate Change Center (CCCCC), and the Pacific
Climate Change Roundtable
o Support cooperation for information sharing on adaptation technologies,
development and transfer between African, Indian Ocean, Caribbean and Pacific
SIDS
o Provide technical and technical support in areas of disaster preparedness, risk
management and disaster mitigation.
o Develop new financial arrangements including a SIDS climate change funding
facility to provide insurance to SIDS to recoup losses due to the impacts of
climate change and sea level rise.
o improve access to, and transfer of, environmentally sound technology related to
climate change
o maximize SIDS access to and use of the Clean Development Mechanism, in order
to promote renewable energy sources and energy efficiency to achieve
substantial technology transfer
Mitigation and adaptation go hand and hand. In this regard the international community
must:
o fully implement the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol
o mobilize the widest public opinion and the strongest political leadership on
future actions against climate change
o take further urgent action to reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions,
including through the development and increased use of renewable energy
including wind, solar, biomass and wave action
o Give the highest priority to completing negotiations on a post-2012 Commitment
Period by December 2008. The outcome of these negotiations should:
o acknowledge historic contributions to present GHG concentrations in
the atmosphere
o lead to the achievement of substantial emission reductions in the shortest
time frame possible stressing the need for substantial action through
domestic policies, measures and action
o significantly increase the level of resources available to developing
countries, particularly SIDS, that is separate and apart from traditional
ODA to assist these the most vulnerable countries to adapt to the adverse
impacts of climate change bearing in mind the recently released finding of
Sir Nicholas Stern of the UK that delaying action will only increase the
costs for adaptation
Comments on SG?s report
1. It is critical that the recommendations highlight the fact that implementation
must be a priority. All too often, assistance to developing countries is only
provided to identify capacity constraints and needs, as well as to develop
activities and projects. If real and tangible benefits are to be realized, action must
be taken and implementation of assessments and project activities is essential.
2. Any support being offered to SIDS needs to be both technical and financial in
nature. There is reference in the document to ?low-cost and negative-cost
adaptation measures? for SIDS and LDCs, this should be removed. Vulnerable
countries require assistance in implementing all types of adaptation options;
support should not be limited only to low-cost options. Additionally, lower cost
options are usually based on best-case scenarios while responding to the negative
impacts of climate change in almost all cases can only be served through the
application of worst-case scenarios.
3. The paragraphs on adaptation are very general and are based on a series of
assumptions that are not specified, but are critical for effective implementation.
As an example, para 25 on agriculture references ?? basic adaptation measures,
such as altering planting dates and cultivar choices ??. It asserts that these
should be promoted, but does not make any reference to the lack of capacity in
developing countries to do this. For such adaptation to occur, it will have to be
preceded by significant capacity building and technology transfer activities in the
form of research and development ? none of which are mentioned in the
document.
4. The paragraphs on climate change mitigation and energy (paragraphs 13 ? 16)
focus on finding ways to continue using fossil fuel by making it cleaner and/or
more efficient. The discussion focuses on carbon dioxide capture and storage
(para 13 and 14), energy efficiency (para 15), clean coal (para 16) and emissions
trading and offsetting (para 17, 19). It is important to find and promote
innovative ways to make fossil fuels less carbon intensive and more efficient as it
remains the cheapest mean of producing energy for many SIDS. However, these
innovations must not be at the expense of support for SIDS. Carbon dioxide
capture and storage is still in its infancy as a technology that could provide an
alternate to emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It must first be proven
that it is a good option for mitigation by being rigorously monitored for leakages
to prove that the storage capabilities are permanent. Only when enough sites
have being scrutinized and the monitoring procedures documented and properly
reviewed can the technology be ready to be considered for the CDM. This will
require another 3-5 year for complete verification. SIDS can support CSS for
mitigation but not for CDM at this time.
5. These recommendations do not address the critical issue of reducing carbon
dioxide emissions from source by finding alternatives to carbon dioxide and does
not even once consider the use of any form of renewable energy e.g. wind, solar,
ocean thermal, biofuels and the like.
Finally, Mr Chairman, the issue of SIDS participation in the CSD and climate change
processes has to be addressed. We appeal for those who are able to do so to provide the
necessary support to ensure full representation of SIDS in the CSD and UNFCCC
processes. Similarly, we appeal that CSD avoids the overlapping of its meetings with
other important meetings such as the CSD15 and the next meetings of the subsidiary
bodies of the UNFCCC next May.
Once again, SIDS and the proper representation of our concerns are being marginalized
and undermined, and we urge that the matter is addressed, and avoided in the future.
Thank you
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