AOSIS website goes live!

The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) is a coalition of small island and low-lying coastal countries that share similar development challenges and concerns about the environment, especially their vulnerability to the adverse effects of global climate change. The group functions primarily as an a lobby and negotiating voice for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) within the United Nations (UN) system. 

A meeting of 20 UN ambassadors from small island states at Port of Spain, Trinidad

AOSIS has a membership of 42 States and observers, drawn from all oceans and regions of the world: Africa, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, Pacific and South China Sea. Thirty-seven are members of the UN, close to 28% of developing countries, and 20% of the UN’s total membership. Together, SIDS communities constitute some 5% of the global population.

The AOSIS group functions on the basis of consultation and consensus, and work together primarily through their New York diplomatic Missions to the United Nations. The Alliance does not have a formal charter, nor do they have a regular budget and a secretariat. The current chairman of the AOSIS group is the Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia.

“One point five to stay alive" - AOSIS' slogan

These island states, aka  “the conscience of the UN climate change convention” are calling upon the international community to limit greenhouse gases to well below 350 parts per million, to limit temperature rises to below 1.5 degrees Celsius and to enter into a legally binding agreement in order to achieve these targets. The impacts of climate change, they assert, are already being felt and therefore even a two degree target is too high.

For example, the future of one of the low-lying Pacific islands called Kiribati is currently being threatened by rising seas, and the situation is so dire that the government is contemplating relocating the entire population to man-made islands resembling giant oil rigs, at a cost of US$2 billion. Beachside villages in Kiribati have already had to move to escape the encroaching waves. Water supplies have been contaminated by salt water, and crops destroyed. Erosion, caused partly by storms and flooding, is increasingly serious.

Climate change impacts are already being felt in some islands like the Pacific island of Kiribati

The world therefore desperately needs to act to reduce carbon emissions, and the engagement of multilateral agencies with the smallest and most vulnerable nations sends a powerful message regarding commitment to the global climate challenge. In order to enhance communication among the islands, as well to inform and involve stakeholders, the AOSIS website has been recently revitalised. Visit the AOSIS website to follow all the latest happenings in negotiations.