AOSIS COP18 Update

Limiting global warming to two degrees is possible if governments ramp up mitigation ambition according to the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) but, time is running out.

“If the onslaught of disasters is not enough to convince the world to act, a series of scientific reports released immediately before the start of the talks should leave no doubt: without bold action to close the ambition gap we are on track for three to five degree rise in temperature and a global catastrophe,” said Michael Crocker, a spokesperson for AOSIS.

Ministers present at the UN climate talks have called for developed parties to double their efforts in raising mitigation targets with an aim of closing the pre-2020 mitigation gap by the end of the 2013/14 period.

In a recent statement, AOSIS have formally outlined four key asks whilst here in Doha:

1. A second commitment period of five years for the Kyoto Protocol,  to avoid “locking-in insufficient mitigation ambition.”

2. Surplus units from the first commitment period to be dramatically limited during the second period, to safeguard the integrity of the treaty.

3. Parties to reaffirm that legally the binding QELROS, targets, are obligatory for all Annex I parties wishing to contribute in the Kyoto Protocol’s flexible mechanisms.

4. Annex 1 countries not signed up to the Kyoto Protocol must have mitigation commitments akin to those under the long-term co-operation stream.

By Gabrielle Donohue, photo by Laura Owsianka.