An areal view of Bermuda. Photo: Ministry of Tourism & Transport, Bermuda If small island nations are to survive, rich and polluting nations must take responsibility and push for an ambitious climate deal in Copenhagen. The upcoming meeting of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) gives countries who contribute least to global warming but whose survival depends on a fair and ambitious climate agreement, an opportunity to be heard.
Climate negotiations which lead to a summit in Copenhagen have so far been dominated by rich nations and big polluters.The AOSIS meeting which coincides with a series of high-level summits including the United Nations climate conference and the G20 will help to carry the message across to all nations.
“We need to break up the cycle where big polluters mainly discuss how to combat global warming in their own circle,” said Kim Carstensen, the leader of the Global Climate Initiative at WWF.
“The AOSIS summit gives a great opportunity to speak out loud, clearly formulate demands which rich and polluting states have the responsibility to fulfil.”
“It is completely absurd to talk about climate change without listening to those who are actually affected by it.”
Small islands are already experiencing the immediate impacts of climate change, including the inundation of coastal areas, the submergence of islands, loss of freshwater supplies, flooding, drought, damaged crops and increased disease. Further warming will increase these risks and threaten the existence of these places.
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 42-member Alliance is also a key negotiating bloc in international climate negotiations.
WWF agrees with the message from AOSIS – we need immediate and ambitious climate action to secure the survival of small island states. This summer we saw the G8 and the Major Economies Forum agree to a limit for climate change at 2 degrees. This is an important step in the right direction, but a temperature rise of two degrees is still too high.
WWF calls for a global commitment to keep temperature rise well below two degrees compared to pre-industrial levels, and believes that greenhouse gas emissions must continue to fall even further to eventually bring temperature rises below the 1.5 degree limit proposed by the small island states.
“World leaders who come together for the United Nations climate summit and for the G20 will have to listen to what AOSIS has to say and act on it immediately. The price for inaction is far too high,” Carstensen said.
Climate negotiations which lead to a summit in Copenhagen have so far been dominated by rich nations and big polluters.The AOSIS meeting which coincides with a series of high-level summits including the United Nations climate conference and the G20 will help to carry the message across to all nations.
“We need to break up the cycle where big polluters mainly discuss how to combat global warming in their own circle,” said Kim Carstensen, the leader of the Global Climate Initiative at WWF.
“The AOSIS summit gives a great opportunity to speak out loud, clearly formulate demands which rich and polluting states have the responsibility to fulfil.”
“It is completely absurd to talk about climate change without listening to those who are actually affected by it.”
Small islands are already experiencing the immediate impacts of climate change, including the inundation of coastal areas, the submergence of islands, loss of freshwater supplies, flooding, drought, damaged crops and increased disease. Further warming will increase these risks and threaten the existence of these places.
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 42-member Alliance is also a key negotiating bloc in international climate negotiations.
WWF agrees with the message from AOSIS – we need immediate and ambitious climate action to secure the survival of small island states. This summer we saw the G8 and the Major Economies Forum agree to a limit for climate change at 2 degrees. This is an important step in the right direction, but a temperature rise of two degrees is still too high.
WWF calls for a global commitment to keep temperature rise well below two degrees compared to pre-industrial levels, and believes that greenhouse gas emissions must continue to fall even further to eventually bring temperature rises below the 1.5 degree limit proposed by the small island states.
“World leaders who come together for the United Nations climate summit and for the G20 will have to listen to what AOSIS has to say and act on it immediately. The price for inaction is far too high,” Carstensen said.
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