Baku, Azerbaijan – In a poignant address to the plenary at COP29, Hon.
Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island
States (AOSIS), laid bare the frustrations and hopes of some of the world’s most
vulnerable nations. Their statement was both a call to action and a reminder of the
stakes at hand as the clock ticks on climate ambition.
Time Is Not on Our Side
The tone of Samoa’s speech reflected growing unease among small island nations
about the pace of negotiations at COP29. As the conference entered its critical
second week, Samoa highlighted a stark reality: many agenda items have been
passed to the CMA (Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties
to the Paris Agreement) without consensus. This bottleneck, AOSIS warned, could
jeopardize progress on climate finance, mitigation, and adaptation — all vital pillars
of the Paris Agreement.
Samoa’s representative urged the COP29 President to provide strong leadership to
accelerate discussions and break the gridlock. “We need to speed up our work,” they
implored, stressing the importance of leadership in yielding critical outcomes.
Finance at the Forefront: SIDS and LDCs Demand Fairness
Finance emerged as a linchpin of Samoa’s address. AOSIS’s top priority is to see
their demands for the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG)
reflected in the final outcomes. Specifically, they called for minimum allocation floors
of:
- $39 billion annually for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
- $220 billion annually for Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
These figures, part of a joint submission by SIDS and LDCs, are not negotiable,
Samoa stressed. “Any outcome that does not include these aspects will not be
acceptable,” they warned, signaling that COP29 cannot afford to neglect the voices
of the most climate-vulnerable.
A Crisis in Mitigation
Mitigation was another flashpoint in Samoa’s speech. With the world falling behind
on commitments to limit global warming to 1.5°C, Samoa expressed dismay over
stalled discussions on mitigation outcomes. Building on agreements from COP28 in
the UAE, AOSIS demanded substantive progress, warning that backsliding or delays
could spell disaster for small island nations.
Appreciation Coupled with Urgency
While Samoa acknowledged the ministerial engagement framework laid out by the
COP29 President, including efforts to avoid scheduling overlaps, they emphasized
that the stakes were too high for logistical challenges to undermine progress. They
also welcomed the focus on key issues like the NCQG and the Global Stocktake
(GST), which evaluates global progress on the Paris Agreement’s goals.
AOSIS pledged to play a constructive role but underscored that equity and ambition
must drive the negotiations. “The small island delegations are concerned about the
pace of negotiations,” Samoa reiterated, urging all parties to cooperate in good faith.
The Broader COP29 Landscape
Samoa’s speech is emblematic of the tension that has defined COP29. As host
nation Azerbaijan facilitates high-stakes discussions, major divides remain on
finance, loss and damage, and carbon market mechanisms. Developed countries
have been accused of dragging their feet on financial commitments, while vulnerable
nations demand accountability and equity.
Amid this backdrop, Samoa’s intervention underscores the critical role of vulnerable
nations in shaping the COP29 narrative. For them, this is not merely a diplomatic
exercise—it is a fight for survival.
What’s at Stake
With only days left to finalise agreements, COP29 faces a defining moment. Can it
deliver the high-ambition balanced package that AOSIS and others demand? Or will
it fall short, further delaying action at a time when every fraction of a degree matters?
For Samoa and the small island nations they represent, the stakes could not be
higher. “We are not prepared to leave this COP without a substantive outcome,”
Samoa declared. Their words are a rallying cry for justice, equity, and the urgent
action needed to secure a liveable future.
As the halls of COP29 buzz with negotiations, Samoa’s impassioned speech serves
as a stark reminder: for small island nations, the consequences of inaction are
existential. The world is watching—and so is history.
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