A critical moment for SIDS – urgency

As the global community approaches COP29, scheduled for Monday, November 11 to Friday, November 22, 2024, the fate of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) hangs in the balance. These countries, which have long borne the brunt of the escalating impacts of climate change, now face an existential threat that requires immediate and decisive global action. The Baku Communiqué, signed in May 2024, underscores the urgent need for COP29 to address the unique challenges facing SIDS. Failure to act decisively at this juncture could lead to irreversible consequences for these vulnerable countries.

A legacy of deep solidarity

Azerbaijan has consistently demonstrated its strong commitment to the cause of SIDS, a commitment highlighted during its chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) from 2019 to 2023. “Azerbaijan has always stood in solidarity with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and promoted their legitimate interests and concerns,” President Ilham Aliyev said during his speech at the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, “Charting the Path to Resilient Prosperity” in Antigua and Barbuda.

President Aliyev further elaborated on this commitment, noting: “During Azerbaijan’s four-year chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, we have spared no effort to advance the Movement’s agenda. Leading the Non-Aligned Movement has enabled Azerbaijan to gain a deeper understanding of the needs and concerns of all member states, including SIDS.” These remarks highlight Azerbaijan’s deep understanding of the disproportionate impact of climate change on SIDS and its firm determination to ensure that the voice of SIDS is amplified on the global stage.

This deep solidarity was further demonstrated at the COP29 Roundtable Dialogue on Small Island Developing States Priorities, hosted by Azerbaijan in Baku on May 15, 2024. This critical meeting brought together distinguished leaders from Small Island Developing States, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the Honourable Frederick Mitchell, MP, and the Governor General of Tuvalu, the Honourable Tofinga Vaevalu Farani. Discussions focused on key issues such as the operation of the Loss and Damage Fund, the establishment of a New Collective Quantified Target (NCQG) for climate finance, and the need for a just transition to clean energy.

Baku Communiqué: Diplomatic call for urgent action

The Baku Communiqué, signed by representatives of Tuvalu, Tonga, the Bahamas and Azerbaijan, is a landmark document that calls for COP29 to be the decisive platform to address the critical challenges facing SIDS. The Communiqué recognizes the existential threat posed to SIDS by climate change, including rising sea levels, increased extreme weather events, and the erosion of cultural heritage. It calls for a concerted global effort to address these challenges, with a particular emphasis on COP29.

At the heart of the communiqué is the need for adequate and accessible climate finance. The document advocates for the implementation of a loss and damage facility, an important mechanism to support countries already experiencing the devastating effects of climate change. In addition, it calls for the establishment of a strong national quality assurance committee for financing to ensure that small island developing States have the necessary resources to build their resilience and adapt to a rapidly changing climate.

In a tangible demonstration of its commitment to these pressing issues, Azerbaijan, in partnership with the Commonwealth and with the assistance of the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, allocated USD 10 million on the eve of COP29. This significant financial contribution highlights Azerbaijan’s deep understanding of the needs of Small Island Developing States and its commitment to ensuring that their issues are prioritized in the global climate agenda, thereby reinforcing its leadership in promoting international cooperation.

To further underscore its commitment, a major signing ceremony will take place at the Tonga Pacific Forum in the presence of COP29 President-elect Mukhtar Babayev. The event is another important milestone on the eve of COP29 and consolidates the cooperation efforts between Azerbaijan and SIDS.

Even more challenging, Azerbaijan faced the shortest lead time for a Conference of the Parties, which makes its efforts all the more commendable. Despite the tight timeline, Azerbaijan has demonstrated extraordinary dedication and capability in organizing and leading this important global event.

The Baku Communiqué also stressed the importance of a fair and equitable transition to clean energy, which is essential to limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C, a critical threshold for the survival of Small Island Developing States. The Communiqué called for COP29 to be an inclusive and transparent platform where the voices of all countries, especially the most vulnerable, can not only be heard but also valued.

The stakes have never been higher

COP29 is of great significance to Small Island Developing States. These countries are on the front lines of climate change, experiencing its devastating impacts with alarming frequency and intensity. Rising sea levels threaten to engulf entire islands, while increasingly severe storms and other extreme weather events wreak havoc on communities and economies. For Small Island Developing States, climate change is not a distant or abstract threat – it is an imminent and escalating crisis that requires urgent global action.

As Bahamian Foreign Minister Mitchell stressed during bilateral discussions with the Azerbaijan COP29 team, addressing climate change is a top foreign policy priority for the Bahamas, and it should be a top priority for the world. The catastrophic effects of climate change, including coastal erosion and Hurricane Dorian, which unleashed devastating waves in the Bahamas, are stark reminders that dangers loom large.

The Baku Communiqué is more than a diplomatic declaration, it is a blueprint for action. It calls on the international community to recognize the urgent needs of small island developing States and take concrete and decisive measures at COP29 to ensure their survival. This includes making climate finance readily available, activating the Loss and Damage Fund, and committing to global efforts to limit temperature rise to the critical threshold of 1.5°C.

The tireless efforts of individuals such as Vanuatu’s COP29 Special Envoy, Ambassador Nair of Tuvalu, and TGID, a leading NGO in Baku, have kept these issues at the forefront of the COP29 agenda. Our dedication has ensured that the concerns of SIDS are not only included, but at the heart of discussions and decisions that will shape the future of global climate action.

Conclusion: COP29 must deliver

COP29 is a critical moment for SIDS and the international community. The decisions made at this conference will determine whether these vulnerable countries can continue to survive or become victims of climate inaction. The Baku Communiqué provides a clear and urgent call to action and a comprehensive roadmap for how COP29 can effectively address the unique challenges facing SIDS.

The time for action is now. COP29 must deliver on the commitments of the Paris Agreement and provide the necessary support to ensure that SIDS can not only survive, but thrive in the face of climate change. As Azerbaijan’s Chief COP29 Negotiator, Mr. Rafiev, aptly stated at the UNFCCC Bonn Climate Conference in June, “We thank all parties for approaching this task with a clear sense of urgency and solidarity as we grapple with one of the defining challenges of the climate crisis. We call on all to bridge differences, bring together options into potential solutions, and narrow the options as much as possible in Bonn.”

Mr. Rafeev also stressed the importance of broader progress, noting: “It is also crucial to make progress outside of our process. In this regard, the Multilateral Development Banks and the International Financial Institutions have an important role to play, as confirmed by the GST outcome.” He further set out expectations for global financial institutions and the largest economies of the G7 and G20 to demonstrate their commitment to increased ambition and action at their respective conferences and summits.

If the world fails to take decisive action at COP29 in Baku, it may be too late to save these countries. The future of SIDS – and indeed the future of our planet – depends on the actions we take today.

(Note: Azerbaijan’s official name is the Republic of Azerbaijan) Azerbaijanis an intercontinental country straddling the border between Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Its capital is Baku.