WASHINGTON, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders, says while Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are working to tip the scales towards justice and survival as it pertains to climate change, the entire global community must also be aware of its impact.
“Our plea is not just for us; it is for the health of a planet we all share,” Sir Ronald told a high-level climate change conference organized jointly by Antigua and Barbuda and the Think Tank Global Americans.
He told the conference, attended by representatives of Caribbean and Latin American governments and the US government and Congress, that “we are at a fork in the road of human history.
“On the one hand, inaction and the continuation of empty promises lead to an existential loss for small island states. On the other, immediate, effective action is informed by international law. And we should all understand this reality.
“As climate change continues to burn our world while flooding it simultaneously; as climate change upends weather patterns, ruining food production, and creating water shortages; as glaciers melt and the levels of seas rise, drowning small islands and eroding coastal areas; as people are displaced from their natural habitats and seek refuge on other shores, small island states are the first to suffer; but they will not be the last.
“All are involved, and all will be consumed,” he said, quoting the English poet and scholar John Donne, reminding society, “Do not ask for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for everyone.”
In his presentation, Sir Ronald sought to explain why several small island states from the Caribbean and the Pacific have joined together in the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law (COSIS) to seek climate justice through the legal system and in this case, specifically for an Advisory Opinion from the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
“ITLOS has agreed to a full hearing of the case that small island states are advancing. The first session will be held in Hamburg on September 11. What each of these small islands faces is a real and present threat to their existence,” the Antigua and Barbuda diplomat said.
He said to put into perspective the level of existential threat facing SIDS, “We are looking at the potential disappearance of nations—entire cultures and histories wiped out due to climate change.
“This is not mere theory; the science is clear and irrefutable. The primary culprits are the major polluters who have, thus far, shown a staggering lack of political will to remedy their actions.”
He said COSIS has a straightforward mandate: to develop rules and principles of international law to fight climate change.
“Time is of the essence, and the stakes are as high as possible – the very survival of these countries and their people. It isn’t about politics but the sanctity of human life and our shared planet.”
But Sir Ronald reminded the audience that small island nations are primarily maritime states that depend on the ocean for sustenance and as a crucial part of their heritage and identity.
“But there’s more. The ocean is a vital carbon sink. With increasing ocean temperatures reaching record highs this summer, all nations must act now to safeguard this critical component of Earth’s climate system.
“ITLOS, the guardian of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, is the natural venue to seek legal clarity on the obligations of states to protect our marine environment.”
He said one of the most glaring injustices is that while small island states contribute the least to climate change, they suffer the most from its ravages.
“The situation calls not just for mitigation but also for compensation. The concept of loss and damage must be squarely addressed. We are not just talking about climate change adaptation but also about building resilience against future threats.
“All these require substantial financing. If justice is to be served, major polluters must be held financially accountable,” he said, adding that by going to ITLOS, AIDS is not seeking to rewrite laws but instead “seeking clarity on existing ones.
“Small states need authoritative, scientific answers on this critical issue, but so too do the major contributors to Climate Change – there must be clear guidance on the consequences of their actions. This Advisory Opinion from ITLOS can serve as a benchmark, a guidepost, for international actions in the future,” he added.
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