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First Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Workshop on the CDM, Majuro, 16 July 1999
The Participants
in the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Workshop on the Clean Development
Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol to the
1. Having met in Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands from 14 to 16 July, 1999:
Expressed their gratitude to His Excellency the President, the Government and the People of the Republic of the Marshall Islands for their timely invitation and generosity in hosting this workshop;
Recognized the importance
of this first AOSIS workshop, and the significance of holding it in a
low-lying small island state, noting that the Marshall Islands is acknowledged
in studies by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to
be especially vulnerable to the impacts and consequences of climate change.
They also recognized that the situation and vulnerability of the Marshall
Islands reflected the condition of other small island States, and underlined
the
Welcomed the presence at the workshop of important developed country partners, the United Nations and regional organisations. AOSIS expressed deep appreciation for their generosity and support for the workshop.
Reaffirmed the ultimate objective as laid down in Article 2 of the Convention and recognised the commitments of Parties included in Annex I under Article 3 of the Kyoto Protocol as an important first step in reaching this objective;
Noted the high importance of domestic action in achieving these commitments and that the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) can be an important tool for complying with part of these commitments through projects in countries not included in Annex I of the Convention to assist them achieve sustainable development and contribute to the ultimate objective of the Convention;
Noted further that the CDM must become a viable and credible mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol and that the certified emissions reductions generated by the CDM must be additional to that which would have otherwise occurred and should have real, measureable and long-term benefits related to the mitigation of climate change;
Stressed that the developing countries, in particular the least developed and small island developing states among them, because of their vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change and exposure to natural disasters, require special capacity-building initiatives;
Stressed further that vulnerability assessment and adaptation are of the highest priority to members of the AOSIS and that the implementation of adaptation activities requires, as essential components, capacity building and the transfer of technology, and noted the importance of renewable energy to small island States;
2. Resolved to work together constructively to make substantial progress on the decisions contained in the Buenos Aires Plan of Action, within the time frames set out therein, and for a timely entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, while accommodating the needs and reasonable expectations of all Parties;
3. Resolved to work together to coordinate donor activities and domestic priorities to more effectively address capacity building and adaptation needs of small island developing States, and recognised the Norway SIDs workshop, Australia’s South Pacific Workshop and the SPREP Conference and Roundtable in Cook Islands as key opportunities for addressing these.
4. Called for further work to be done on the issue of adaptation technology especially for coastal zone management and protection;
5. Requested AOSIS
and the delegation of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to bring this
Statement to the attention of the international community, in particular
through the 22nd special session of the United Nations General Assembly
to review the Barbados Programme of Action on the sustainable development
of small island developing States, the Conference of the Parties to the
Climate Change Convention at its 5th session and the relevant regional ***** Small Island Developing States
Network (SIDSnet) |
