Press Statement from the Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States
Her Excellency Ilana Seid

Closing of the 62nd Session of the Subsidiary Bodies of the UNFCCC/ June Climate Meetings

Friday 27th June 2025, UN Campus, Bonn

As we reflect on the closure of the 62nd Session of the Subsidiary Bodies, AOSIS acknowledges the progress made, however the pace of action remains far behind the accelerating impacts our nations are already enduring. Small island developing states should not be the collateral damage of other countries’ lack of climate action.

We are concerned by the attack on science we have witnessed throughout these SB sessions. Acting upon the latest and best available science to keep 1.5°C within reach is a priority for AOSIS. It is alarming that the reflection of scientific fact is being challenged. That the mere mentioning of 1.5°C seems to be a red flag is an extremely concerning development.

We continue to call for urgent acceleration of Mitigation ambition. We are severely off track and international commitments to drastically reduce emissions and keep our world on a 1.5°C pathway are not being kept. We call on all Parties to submit enhanced, 1.5°C-aligned NDCs well ahead of COP. There is no room for delay. Every fraction of a degree matters, and every moment lost risks lives and creates more potential climate refugees.

We must move swiftly to operationalize the Global Goal on Adaptation and ensure it delivers real resilience on the ground. Climate finance must be scaled up, predictable, and accessible, especially for adaptation and addressing loss and damage. Developed countries must meet and exceed their commitments, including mobilisation of the New Collective Quantified Goal which was agreed to last year.

The Just Transition must be inclusive and equitable. The shift to low-carbon economies must uplift, not leave behind, the vulnerable, and there is much work to be done here if COP30 is to be a success. The implementation phase of the Global Stocktake must now begin with urgency and integrity, translating pledges into pathways that deliver tangible outcomes.

Small island developing states look forward to participating constructively on these matters at COP30 in Belém, however at this point we are concerned by the uncertainty surrounding logistical arrangements. With less than five months to go before these pivotal negotiations, our delegates – many of whom are already facing constraints which make travel challenging – have not received firm solutions to address the issue of astronomical costs of the already limited accommodation options. AOSIS is also requesting clarity on the timing of the planned “Leaders’ Summit”, which clashes with our customary SIDS Preparatory Days. Without our technical experts present at the Preparatory Days, we will be at a significant disadvantage when engaging in negotiations.

We have communicated these concerns as well as others related to transport, safety, and health, to the incoming COP30 Presidency, and look forward to swift resolution of these matters.

As we mark the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, we must recommit to its promise. This is not just a test of political will, it is a test of our shared humanity. Every moment of inaction tightens the grip of crisis, not just around vulnerable nations, but around us all. If we fail to act now, we will not only lose our islands. We will lose the world we all call home.


About AOSIS:
Since 1990, AOSIS has represented the interests of the 39 small island and low-lying coastal developing states in international climate change, sustainable development negotiations and processes. As a voice for the vulnerable, its mandate is more than amplifying marginalized voices as it also advocates for these countries’ interests. In terms of size, AOSIS closely resembles the countries it represents on the global stage, but often punches far above its weight, negotiating historic global commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions, among other achievements.

Media Contact:
Bianca Beddoe | Communications Advisor
media@aosis.org