Jakarta — In a joint press conference held on Friday, November 15, representatives of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) issued an urgent call for enhanced climate finance commitments at COP29. The leaders emphasised the critical need for an ambitious and equitable climate finance goal to tackle the escalating climate crisis and safeguard vulnerable nations.
Evans Njewa, Chair of the LDCs, addressed the media alongside Cedric Schuster, Chair of AOSIS, Yusuf Mkungula, Principal Secretary of Malawi’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, and Michai Robertson, a climate finance negotiator for AOSIS. Together, they stressed the importance of the COP process under the UNFCCC as a vital platform for amplifying their voices on the global stage.
“We are here to advance action to keep global warming to 1.5°C,” said Schuster. “A bad goal benefits no one. Enhanced finance is crucial. Without it, developing countries lack the support to push emissions reductions, vital for staying within the 1.5°C threshold.”
He further underscored the need for science-based decisions, referencing the IPCC’s long-standing warnings. “On behalf of islanders plagued by rising seas and devastating storms, and even the people of Spain who have lost lives in horrifying floods, we call for countries at COP29 to act with urgency—to protect lives, not fossil fuel profits.”
Financial demands of the vulnerable
Yusuf Mkungula outlined the pressing financial needs of LDCs, advocating for a robust and fair climate finance goal that addresses mitigation, adaptation, loss, and damage. “We need grants, not loans at market rates,” he stated. “Finance must be new, additional, and focused on the needs of LDCs.”
COP29, he stressed, is a “finance COP,” urging developed nations to meet their responsibilities. “We represent 45 countries and 1.1 billion people. The climate crisis is solving the world’s biggest problem—breaking economies, peace, and pushing billions into poverty.”
Michai Robertson emphasised the importance of adhering to Article 9 of the Paris Agreement and warned against any deviation. “Deviation would open up the entire Agreement, which is extremely dangerous,” he cautioned. He reiterated the need for predictable public finance, advocating for minimum annual allocations of $39 billion for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and USD 220 billion for LDCs in grant terms.
Robertson also addressed the geopolitical landscape, warning against fragmenting global climate efforts. “Forums like the UNFCCC are legitimate spaces where all of us can be heard. While others may criticise the COP process, it remains critical for ensuring that vulnerable countries have a seat at the table.”
As the world watches COP29, AOSIS and LDCs have made their demands clear: urgent, equitable, and science-backed action. Their message resonates as a plea and a rallying cry for collective responsibility in the face of a climate emergency.
“Solving the climate crisis is not just about the vulnerable,” Mkungula concluded. “It’s about securing a livable future for all.” (nsh)
Banner photo: Cedric Schuster, Chair of AOSIS. Screenshot/UNFCCC COP29 webcast
