Thank you to both SB Chairs for giving us the floor. Samoa is speaking on behalf of the
Alliance of Small Island States.

We align ourselves to the statement made by Cuba on behalf of G77 and China

Pace of the negotiations
• Thank you Chairs for guiding us since the launch of work last Thursday.
• We are encouraged with the progress on some matters, however we are equally
disappointed in the general pace of the negotiations in, and the general lack of
progress in priority areas for AOSIS.

Loss and Damage
• Let us begin with the good news first.
• We are very happy to see that we have a solid decision that will enable us to fully
operationalize the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage. Coupled with the loss
and damage Fund, a fully operationalized Santiago network will go far toward
delivering on the finance and technical assistance that we as SIDS so desperately
need to respond to ever worsening loss and damage impacting our highly
vulnerable island nations.
• This is indeed a very good outcome and we look forward to engaging with the
network as it gets up and running.

GST
• On the Global Stocktake, we are disappointed at the limited progress that has been
made and note the procedural conclusions which have been forwarded to the
presidency and which perseveres the progress that has been made.
We look forward to making significant progress next week and to producing an
ambitious and robust GST outcome that will course correct this process and bring
us back on track for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.

GGA
• AOSIS is extremely concerned and very disappointed about the process in the
GGA discussion. We absolutely must begin engaging in textual negotiations on
this issue of critical importance to SIDS. As we have said numerous times AOSIS
is expecting to agree on a robust framework for the Global Goal on Adaptation at
this conference. For us this framework should provide guidance through high level
targets in key areas related to our well-being, including clean water, food security,
health, ecosystems and infrastructure. Furthermore, it should allow us to
strengthen our resilience and reduce our vulnerability in a 1.5C world.

Finance
• On Matters related to finance, we thank you for providing us with text, however,
once again, we are concerned at the slow progress on the item in particular.
• We anticipate having a mechanism to link the discussions in the technical expert
dialogues (TEDs) to a formal process where we can negotiate the NCQG in the
coming year. The new goal should also have sub goals specifically on adaptation,
mitigation and most importantly on loss and damage. There is also a need to place
the recognition of the special circumstances of SIDS within the new goal. This is
imperative to helping us address the every-growing impacts of climate change on
at home.

Mitigation
• Very disappointingly, there has been little progress under the mitigation work
programme (MWP) agenda item, with significant divergences on elements and
content of the draft decision. AOSIS must see a decision next week which reflects
urgency, in line with the latest science, outlines key findings and actionable solutions from the first year of the MWP, and details areas of improvement for the
MWP’s important work continuing next year.
• The decision here in Dubai is critical for showing the value of the MWP in
supporting parties to increase ambition and accelerate the implementation of their
NDCs in this critical decade. AOSIS therefore expects a decision of substance,
not process. We simply don’t have time for mere process if we are to keep 1.5
alive.

Transparency
• We note with concerns that most agenda items under this issue were left
unresolved and Rule 16 was applied with matters being forwarded to the next SBs.
This is a shame as we are in the run up to the submission of our first BTRs due by
the end of next year.

Technology
• We welcome the positive outcome on the technology agenda item and look forward
to the implementation of the technology joint work program and the priority
technology needs of Small Islands developing States.
Chairs,

Special circumstance of SIDS
• AOSIS would like to highlight a very great concern over the non-recognition of
SIDS special circumstances across a number of agenda items.
• Chairs, recognition of the special circumstances of SIDS did not start in Paris.
SIDS have been recognized as countries with special needs and circumstances
as part of Agenda 21, in the context of Sustainable Development and Environment
issues.
• Since then, our special circumstances have been unequivocally reflected in the
Convention and in the Paris Agreement.
• Chairs, we are not here to re-negotiate any article of Paris Agreement, however,
we also recognize the sensitivities around matters related to most vulnerable
countries. While many insist that we collectively refer to all developing countries
as vulnerable, the case of SIDS is very different and our special circumstances are
enshrined in international law.

• We thank you, Chairs for your attention to this matter and to successful outcomes
on all of the critical issues that remain open.