Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)

The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) is an intergovernmental coalition that represents the interests of small island and low-lying coastal countries in international climate change, sustainable development, and environmental negotiations. Established in 1990, AOSIS serves as a unified voice for nations that are among the most vulnerable to the effects of global warming, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events. Despite their limited economic and political power, AOSIS members have been pivotal in shaping global climate policy and advocating for stronger international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Formation and Membership

AOSIS was founded ahead of the Second World Climate Conference in 1990 and gained formal recognition during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Earth Summit, in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The alliance was established to ensure that the specific concerns of small island states were not overlooked in global environmental discussions dominated by larger nations.
The group comprises 39 member states and five observers, spanning regions of the Caribbean, the Pacific, the Indian Ocean, and the African and South China Seas. Collectively, these nations represent about 20 per cent of the UN’s membership but account for a very small share of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Key members include:

• Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago.
• Pacific: Fiji, Samoa, Tuvalu, Palau, Tonga, Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, Kiribati.
• Indian Ocean and African region: Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, Comoros.
• Other regions: Singapore and Cabo Verde.

Objectives and Principles

The principal aim of AOSIS is to advocate for international policies that safeguard the survival and sustainable development of small island nations. Its objectives are rooted in three core principles: climate justice, sustainable development, and global equity.
Key objectives include:

1. Climate Change Mitigation: To promote global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in line with scientific recommendations, emphasising the 1.5°C temperature limit above pre-industrial levels.
2. Adaptation and Resilience: To secure financial and technical support for island nations to adapt to sea-level rise, coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion, and natural disasters.
3. Climate Finance: To ensure equitable access to international funding mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and to push for compensation for loss and damage caused by climate change.
4. Sustainable Development: To promote environmentally responsible economic growth, renewable energy adoption, and the conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems.
5. Representation: To amplify the collective voice of small island states in international negotiations, particularly within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings, and related UN agencies.

Historical Background and Global Advocacy

AOSIS emerged at a time when scientific evidence about human-induced climate change was becoming widely recognised. Small island states, many of which were already facing coastal erosion and increased storm intensity, realised the existential threat posed by rising sea levels.
The alliance gained global visibility at the 1992 Earth Summit, where it played a critical role in drafting the early framework for international climate agreements. Since then, AOSIS has been instrumental in pushing for ambitious climate action, often acting as the moral conscience of global environmental diplomacy.
At the Kyoto Protocol (1997), AOSIS members advocated strongly for binding emission reduction targets for industrialised nations. Later, during the Paris Agreement (2015) negotiations, the group successfully lobbied for the inclusion of the 1.5°C goal, a landmark victory recognising that exceeding this limit would be catastrophic for many small island nations.

Climate Change and Vulnerability

Small island states share common vulnerabilities despite their geographical and cultural diversity. Their small size, narrow resource base, and dependence on coastal and marine ecosystems make them particularly susceptible to the adverse impacts of climate change.
Major threats include:

• Sea-level rise: Posing existential risks to low-lying nations such as the Maldives, Tuvalu, and Kiribati, where large portions of land lie less than two metres above sea level.
• Coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion: Threatening freshwater supplies, agriculture, and settlements.
• Tropical cyclones and extreme weather: Increasing in frequency and intensity, leading to loss of lives and infrastructure damage.
• Coral bleaching: Affecting fisheries and tourism-based economies.
• Economic vulnerability: Heavy reliance on tourism and limited diversification make recovery from climate-related disasters difficult.

For many AOSIS nations, climate change is not just an environmental issue but a matter of national survival, human rights, and sovereignty.

Institutional Structure and Operation

AOSIS operates as a negotiating bloc within the United Nations and other multilateral forums rather than as a formal international organisation with permanent institutions.

• Chairmanship: The chair of AOSIS rotates among member states every two years. The chair leads the group’s coordination in negotiations and represents the alliance in international forums.
• Coordination: Member states collaborate through regular meetings, preparatory sessions, and regional consultations before major UN conferences.
• Secretariat Support: Administrative and logistical support is provided through national missions to the United Nations in New York.

AOSIS often works in alliance with other coalitions, such as the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), to enhance influence in global negotiations.

Key Contributions and Achievements

1. Advancing the 1.5°C target: AOSIS’s sustained advocacy led to the global recognition of the need to limit warming to 1.5°C under the Paris Agreement, enshrined in the “High Ambition Coalition” formed before COP21.
2. Loss and Damage Mechanism: AOSIS has been a leading voice in the creation of mechanisms under the UNFCCC to address irreversible climate impacts through financial assistance.
3. Promotion of Renewable Energy: The alliance has supported initiatives promoting clean and renewable energy transitions in island nations, reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.
4. Sustainable Ocean Governance: AOSIS has been active in shaping international policies for marine conservation, advocating for the Blue Economy model and protection of biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions.
5. Bridgetown Initiative: Members have supported reforms to the global financial system, proposed by Barbados, to ensure fairer access to climate and development finance.

Challenges and Limitations

While AOSIS has achieved considerable diplomatic influence, it faces persistent challenges:

• Limited economic power to implement large-scale adaptation projects.
• Dependence on international aid and complex access procedures for climate funds.
• Geographic dispersion and differing national priorities sometimes complicate unified positions.
• Inadequate global action, as current emission reduction pledges fall short of keeping warming below 1.5°C.

Additionally, the existential threat of rising sea levels raises questions of statehood and displacement, as some islands may become uninhabitable within decades, leading to potential loss of territory and sovereignty.

Significance and Global Impact

AOSIS’s significance lies in its moral authority and coalition-building power. By uniting diverse small nations under a common cause, the alliance has ensured that the concerns of vulnerable states remain central to global climate discourse. Its influence extends beyond environmental policy into the realms of international law, human rights, and sustainable development.
AOSIS has also inspired global awareness of environmental justice, underscoring that nations contributing least to global warming often suffer its most devastating consequences. Through persistent diplomacy and moral persuasion, it has compelled larger economies to acknowledge their responsibilities.

Future Outlook

In the coming decades, AOSIS is expected to continue leading global advocacy for:

• Strengthening implementation of the Paris Agreement.
• Ensuring equitable access to climate adaptation finance and loss and damage funds.
• Promoting resilient infrastructure and early-warning systems.
• Advancing the Blue Economy and sustainable use of marine resources.
• Securing legal protections for climate-induced migration and statehood.

As climate change accelerates, AOSIS’s role will remain vital in bridging the gap between science and policy, reminding the international community of the urgent need for collective action.