Small Island States Like the Maldives, Seychelles, and Fiji Have Contributed Very Little to Global Warming, Yet They Are Among the Most Threatened by Its Effects. How Do These Small States Assert Themselves in Climate Negotiations?
With Sarah Tegas, PhD Candidate in Political Science at the Center for International Studies (CERI), Sciences Po
What have these states achieved at COP 30, and how do they maintain their influence in these diplomatic meetings? Sarah Tegas, a PhD candidate at CERI, Sciences Po, recently returned from COP 30 in Brazil, where she conducted research for her study titled: “Beyond Coalitions: Small States in International Climate Negotiations”.
The Rise of Small Island States in Climate Diplomacy
Sarah Tegas explains that she focused on these countries, often overlooked in international relations dominated by “major powers such as China, Russia, and the United States.” Yet these states, which “have contributed the least” to global warming, are today “the most threatened.”
Thanks to their coalition of 39 states, AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States), they have secured major advances, including the inclusion of the 1.5°C target in the Paris Agreement. The researcher notes that “it is not always recognized that these achievements come from this coalition.”
Climate Justice as a Priority
Their goal is clear, according to Sarah Tegas: “They want climate justice.” Some countries, such as Tuvalu, “could disappear by 2050–2100.” Facing the inevitable, they demand financing, adaptation, and reparations, including for future climate refugees.
They are also strengthening their diplomatic capacities through training programs and continuity of negotiators, in order to be recognized “as states capable of negotiating at the table.”
Source: Radio France
