The participants in the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Workshop on the Clean
Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change.
Having met in Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands, from 14 to 16 July 1999:
Expressed their gratitude to His Excellency the President, the Government and the
People of the Republic of the Marshall Islands for their timely invitation and generosity in
hosting the workshop;
Recognized the importance of this first AOSIS workshop, and the significance of holding
it in a low-lying small island State, noting that the Marshall Islands is acknowledged in studies
by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to be especially vulnerable to the
impacts and consequences of climate change. They also recognized that the situation and
vulnerability of the Marshall Islands reflected the condition of other small island States, and
underlined the urgency and seriousness of the concerns of the AOSIS countries;
Welcomed the presence at the workshop of important developed country partners, the
United Nations and regional organizations. AOSIS expressed deep appreciation for their
generosity and support for the workshop;
Reaffirmed the ultimate objective as laid down in article 2 of the Convention, and
recognized the commitments of parties included in annex I under article 3 of the Kyoto
Protocol as an important first step in reaching that objective;
Noted the high importance of domestic action in achieving those commitments and that
the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) could be an important tool for complying with
part of these commitments through projects in countries not included in annex I of the
Convention to assist them achieve sustainable development and contribute to the ultimate
objective of the Convention;
Noted further that the CDM must become a credible and viable mechanism of the Kyoto
Protocol and that the certified emission reductions generated by the CDM must be additional
to that which would have otherwise occurred and should have real, measurable and long-term
benefits related to the mitigation of climate change;
Stressed that the developing countries, in particular the least developed and small island
developing States among them, because of their vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate
change and exposure to natural disasters, require special capacity-building initiatives;
Stressed further that vulnerability assessment and adaptation are of the highest priority
to members of AOSIS and that the implementation of adaptation activities require, as essential
components, capacity-building and the transfer of technology, and noted also the importance
of renewable energy to small island States;
Resolved to work together constructively to make substantial progress on the decisions
contained in the Buenos Aires Plan of Action, within the time-frames set out therein, and for
a timely entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, while accommodating the needs and reasonable
expectations of all parties;
Resolved also to work together to coordinate donor activities and domestic priorities
to more effectively address capacity-building and adaptation needs of small island developing
States, and recognized the Norway Small Island Developing States workshop, Australia’s
South Pacific workshop and the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme Climate
Change conference and round table in the Cook Islands as key opportunities for addressing
these;
Called for further work to be done on the issue of adaptation technology, especially for
coastal zone management and protection;

Requested AOSIS and the delegation of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to bring
this Statement to the attention of the international community, in particular through the twentysecond special session of the United Nations General Assembly to review the Barbados
Programme of Action on the sustainable development of small island developing States, the
Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention at its fifth session and to the
relevant regional workshops and meetings.
First Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) workshop on the Clean
Development Mechanism
Majuro, 16 July 1999