Alliance of Small Island States

Alliance of Small Island States
Name	Alliance of Small Island States
Formation	1990
Type	Intergovernmental organization
Headquarters	Bridgetown, Barbados
Membership	39 members, 5 observers (variable)
Leader title	Chair

Alliance of Small Island States is an intergovernmental coalition formed in 1990 to promote the collective interests of island and low-lying coastal Antigua and Barbuda, Maldives, Fiji, Barbados, Tuvalu nations at international fora such as the United Nations, the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, and the World Bank. The grouping coordinates positions on global negotiations involving climate change diplomacy, sustainable development forums like the UN General Assembly, and disaster risk discussions at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and International Maritime Organization.

History and formation

The initiative emerged from meetings involving representatives from Caribbean Community, Pacific Islands Forum, Indian Ocean Commission, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, and diplomats engaged with the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Development Programme after events such as the Earth Summit and the Brundtland Commission report. Early convenings referenced precedents including the Non-Aligned Movement and consultations with actors like Ban Ki-moon and delegations from Small Island Developing States that later intersected with negotiations at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and protocols influenced by the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement processes. Founding coordination drew on expertise from figures associated with CARICOM Secretariat, South Pacific Commission, and legal inputs reflecting rulings from the International Court of Justice on maritime zones under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Membership and classification

Membership encompasses sovereign states from regional groups including the Caribbean Community, the Pacific Islands Forum, and Indian Ocean states such as Seychelles. Members are often classified as Least Developed Countries or Small Island Developing States with links to policy frameworks from institutions like the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund. Observers and partners have included non-state actors and entities like the European Union, United Nations Development Programme, and bilateral partners such as Australia, United Kingdom, and Japan participating in specific coalitions and initiatives tied to conventions like the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Objectives and priorities

The coalition prioritizes advocacy on issues framed by instruments including the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Sustainable Development Goals championed at the United Nations General Assembly. It seeks outcomes related to loss and damage finance discussed at COP26 and COP27, adaptation funding from entities like the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund, and protection of maritime entitlements guided by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The alliance advances legal and technical positions referenced in submissions to bodies such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and negotiation blocs including the Group of 77 and the Alliance of Small Island States-aligned constituencies at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Governance and organizational structure

The grouping operates through rotating chairs and presidencies hosted by capitals such as Bridgetown, Suva, Malé, and Port Vila with secretariat support and coordination with agencies like the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and the Caribbean Development Bank. Decision-making is typically consensus-based among delegations, supported by working groups on thematic areas including adaptation, mitigation, oceans, and finance that liaise with bodies such as the Green Climate Fund board and the UNFCCC subsidiary mechanisms. Chairs engage with high-level summits including the UN Climate Action Summit and bilateral meetings with leaders from Canada, New Zealand, and France.

Activities and policy initiatives

The alliance has produced joint statements, technical submissions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and coordinated negotiating texts for COP sessions and the United Nations General Assembly high-level plenaries. Initiatives have included proposals for a loss and damage funding mechanism, support for blue economy strategies linked to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development guidance, and partnerships promoting renewable energy deployment as outlined in programs supported by the International Renewable Energy Agency and the World Bank. The coalition has engaged in litigation support networks coordinating with legal teams referencing precedents from cases before the International Court of Justice and regional tribunals.

Climate change and environmental advocacy

The alliance is prominent in climate diplomacy, advocating for ambitious emissions reductions in alignment with scientific assessments from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and legal frameworks under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. It champions measures such as enhanced nationally determined contributions, scaled-up adaptation finance via the Green Climate Fund, ocean protection under the Convention on Biological Diversity and regional fisheries management organizations like the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, and coastal resilience strategies supported by entities including the World Meteorological Organization and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Funding and partnerships

Funding and partnerships involve multilateral development banks such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the European Investment Bank along with bilateral aid from Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, and philanthropic entities including foundations connected to programs by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Collaborations extend to UN agencies like the United Nations Development Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and technical partners such as the Commonwealth Secretariat and the International Maritime Organization to mobilize resources for adaptation, resilience, and sustainable development projects across member states.

Category:Intergovernmental organizations Category:Small Island Developing States