FULL VERSION OF STATEMENT CAN BE DOWNLOADED VIA PDF ABOVE

Executive Secretary Stiell
Chairs of the Subsidiary Bodies
Excellencies
Colleagues

I am pleased to deliver this statement on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States, and we align ourselves with the intervention by the Group of 77 and China. The full version of our statement will be sent to the Secretariat.

Guided by the latest science, the global response to climate change must involve concrete action on three interconnected response pillars: adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage response with commensurate support for developing countries.

Our Alliance has two high-level priorities that must be realized at COP 28 in Dubai. These are:

1. Course correcting and ratcheting up ambition, through the outcomes of COP28, including the Global Stocktake process, Mitigation Work Programme, and Global Goal on Adaptation Work Programme; and

2. The timely operationalization of a fit-for-purpose set of funding arrangements centered around a new Fund addressing loss and damage and focusing on assisting developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, including their communities and the ecosystems that they depend on, especially in our small island developing States.

Permit me to elaborate.
GLOBAL STOCKTAKE: COURSE CORRECT & ACCELERATE IMPLEMENTATION

As the findings of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Cycle have confirmed, we are far off track from limiting global warming to 1.5°C. In fact, we will be emitting twice as much as we can afford by the end of the decade if we follow current policies. Drastic actions are required in this critical decade to course correct. We need to not only fulfill the commitments that we have already made BUT also ratchet-up ambition and accelerate implementation to close the mitigation gap in line with the best available science.

The GST provides a pivotal moment to heed the alarm bells that have been deafening both to the countries of the world and especially to SIDS. This 58th session places all the well-known gaps and corresponding solutions in one place in order for us to begin conceptualizing clear recommendations for the CMA’s consideration.

The Convention and Paris Agreement have called for developed countries to lead this global effort. The time for creating pacts that are ignored and plans that are pushed aside must end. Major economies of G7 and G20 have shown the extent of their abilities in the face of pandemics and wars. But the climate crisis is relegated to being a secondary issue behind of their self-interests. SIDS call for nationally determined contributions to become nationally implemented contributions now. SIDS will not mistake motion for action.

The GST outcome, the moment that it brings, is crucial. And while the written aspect of the GST outcome is important, what has greater importance is the follow-through and accelerated implementation. We also need the leadership of the incoming COP Presidency to ensure that the GST outcome and its follow-through will be ambitious enough to put us back on track. We invite the UAE team to set out its vision here in Bonn for the form and content of the GST outcome. This will allow Parties to begin to engage with, and shape that vision. Ultimately, we must leave Dubai with a clear roadmap.

Moreover, any messages in the GST outcome will only reaffirm well known issues and gaps in collective progress on action and support for adaptation, mitigation and loss and damage response. We do not need to wait for the outcome of the GST to know that we are not on track to keeping within the 1.5°C goal. We have an existing mandate from COP27 for Parties to revisit and strengthen the 2030 targets in their nationally determined contributions as necessary to align with the Paris Agreement temperature goal.
We have an existing mandate from COP27 for Parties to revisit and strengthen the 2030 targets in their nationally determined contributions as necessary to align with the Paris Agreement temperature goal. Parties, especially major economies, must therefore do so with utmost urgency by COP28, and furthermore announce concrete implementation plans to achieve their NDCs. We must continue to keep the 1.5°C goal and ensure that SIDS to survive as well as thrive.

LOSS AND DAMAGE

The utmost must be done to sustain the momentum and hope generated at COP 27. AOSIS expects an ambitious outcome at COP 28 including, at a minimum, three key elements:

– First, the operationalization of the UNFCCC’s new and distinct Loss and Damage Fund addressing ongoing and locked-in loss and damage, through the finalization of the Fund’s instrument of establishment as well as the provision of initial guidance to the Fund’s governing body as key recommendations of the Transitional Committee’s (‘TC’);

– Second, substantial pledges and commitments towards the Fund’s initial resource mobilization must be made ahead of, and at COP 28. from a wide variety of sources including existing climate finance providers, innovative sources of finance, as well as, at a minimum, voluntary contributions coming from the high emissions private industries and the financial sector that underpins and enables them; and

– Third the integration and actioning of the additional recommendations from the TC on operationalizing other new funding arrangements, funding sources identification and expansion, in coherence and complementarity with existing arrangements and entities.

Regarding the Santiago Network for Loss and Damage, AOSIS looks forward to actively participating in its Host selection process in order to move forward in establishing the network at this SB session.

Furthermore, AOSIS looks forward to engaging on how we can concretize the linkage between the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage’s Executive Committee and the Santiago Network on one end, and the Fund and the funding arrangements on the other. Where the knowledge, understanding and coordination from the former underpins and informs the latter to ensure a coordinated approach to responding to loss and damage.

CONCLUSION

The IPCC has been clear. Even with the deployment of carbon removal technologies, we will need a radical reduction in fossil fuels to stay under 1.5. The IEA has stated that we need no further oil and gas development if we are to stay under 1.5°C, we cannot ignore these facts as we pursue a fossil fuel phaseout with members of the G7 and G20 leading the way.

The climate crisis that threatens to create refugees of our people at home – must be treated with the utmost urgency and our deliberations here in Bonn must remain guided by the latest science. AOSIS deplores not having a dedicated agenda item on the IPCC, which does not follow past practice. AOSIS will nevertheless approach the session with flexibility and a constructive spirit, and encourages all Parties to do the same.

AOSIS is determined to ensure SB 58 advances outcomes that will provide real relief for our vulnerable people and ecosystems they depend on.

I Thank you.