Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, has voiced a strong appeal to smaller and developing nations at the United Nations General Assembly.
He stressed the importance of these countries banding together to advance their mutual interests.
The marginalization of vulnerable states
Countries most susceptible to global challenges, especially climate change, often find themselves sidelined in pivotal discussions.
Such discussions have direct implications on their citizen’s daily lives, making their involvement crucial.
Uniting against climate offenders: The COSIS initiative
Antigua and Barbuda is at the forefront of a mission to rally small island nations.
Through the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law (COSIS), they aim to confront major polluting nations head-on.
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Legal intervention: Turning to ITLOS
Joining forces with Tuvalu’s Prime Minister, Kausea Natano, Browne approached the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
The goal is to gain an Advisory Opinion on the duty of nations to tackle pollution intertwined with climate change. This legal avenue, pursued from September 11th to 25th in Hamburg, Germany, is viewed by Browne as a vital move for these island states.
He emphasized the significance of the ITLOS, highlighting its role as the custodian of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
As maritime states, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) lean heavily on the oceans. These waters are not only sources of nourishment but also integral to their heritage, identity, and the Earth’s climate system.
Seeking clarity, not new laws
The prime motive of COSIS nations is not to create new laws. Rather, they want a clearer understanding of the current ones.
Browne lamented the state of SIDS, which faces sinking territories and a mounting debt crisis from repeated natural disasters. Their plight is exacerbated when they are left to fend for themselves, unsupported by the international community.
Backing Vanuatu’s stance
In a display of solidarity, COSIS members are fully supporting Vanuatu’s pursuit of an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice. This opinion concerns the obligations of states concerning climate change.
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