Small Island Developing States at COP26: What's to be Done?

Keynote speakers and experts from the think tank iDERA and the York Environmental Sustainability Institute (YESI), University of York, will join representatives from the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and other guest experts, to discuss the key priorities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the November 2021 global climate negotiations.

Overview

Key Questions: What’s at stake? What issues should be raised?

The upcoming UNFCCC Climate Summit in Glasgow, the 26th Conference of Parties (COP) offers a critical opportunity for governments to coordinate and commit to individual and collective policy and action to tackle the Climate crisis. All countries have a stake in the negotiations and the outcome in November. But amongst those currently in the most precarious situation are the Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) spread across the Caribbean, the Pacific and the Indian Ocean.

Combined, SIDS contribution to global emissions which cause climate change are negligible, yet SIDS have long borne the brunt of impacts and long fought for the multilateral process to pay attention and raise ambition on this issue of global significance.

COP 26 is considered a critical moment to ensure that collectively, the world is on track to limiting global warming to 1.5°C to ensure the worst impacts of climate change are not realized. As it stands, recent reports by the United Nations measuring the promised collective actions of countries will not secure a climate safe future for all. In fact we are significantly surpassing the agreed upper-bound temperature goal of the Paris Agreement which scientists have overwhelmingly shown will lead to devastating effects, with small islands once again the first and most severely impacted.

Webinar’s Aims

To contribute to AOSIS’ coherent and more effective engagement at COP26 :

• Pool together SIDS’ messaging to clearly articulate their priority positions, similar to their coordinated approach at the Paris Conference.
• Give AOSIS members an opportunity to comment on the articulated positions presented by iDERA and other experts. The webinar will inform a high level policy brief.
• Recommendations on tactical or strategy approaches that can be adopted by SIDS going into COP26.

Agenda

1. Opening Remarks (12 mins)

• Professor Henrice Altink, Interdisciplinary Global Development Centre (IGDC), University of York
• AOSIS Representatives

2. Small Islands positions leading into COP26 (10 mins)

• Dr Sindra Sharma-Khushal and Dr Ginelle Greene Dewasmes, iDERA

3. Moderated Discussion: Reaction from AOSIS Representatives (45 mins)

• Moderator – H.E. Ambassador Edwin Laurent
• Panellists- Academics and AOSIS Representatives

Suggested Guiding Questions

• What are SIDS’ key negotiating objectives?
• How are SIDS organising around the priorities identified?
• How can SIDS ensure a strong outcome at COP26?

4. Open Discussion and Q&A session (25 mins)

• Chaired by H.E. Ambassador Edwin Laurent

5. Concluding Remarks (5 mins)

• Prof. Tony Heron, York Environmental Sustainability Institute, University of York

Presented in partnership with iDERA and the York Environmental Sustainability Institute, University of York