Small Islands Developing States: The need for International Climate Change Action.

Abstract

This thesis focuses on Small Islands Developing States, SIDS, and their need for international climate change action. The aim is to explore what arguments have been used to advocate for international action to support SIDS in their climate change challenges between 2007-2017. The Alliance of Small Islands States, AOSIS, have represented SIDS issues in international events since 1990. As SIDS are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as sea-level rise and extreme weather events, they have been considered a special case for sustainable development by the United Nations. The data was collected from UN archives and included AOSIS documents provided to the UN at various events during the ten-year period. This qualitative research uses argumentation analysis and an independently developed theoretical framework inspired by the premises of Theories of Climate Justice. The findings reveal a moral foundation for all the AOSIS arguments, taking shape through ethical perspectives on climate change, operational suggestions for climate change action and reminders to fulfil diplomatic agreements on climate change. Three main themes emerged from the data: urging the international community to take responsibility for the damage they have caused SIDS through anthropogenic climate change; the need for collective climate change action to solve shared global concerns; and the SIDS need for the international community to follow through with international commitments made. In conclusion, SIDS remain in a state of existential crisis because of the unwillingness of the international community to follow through with commitments made. Still dependent on support and resources puts them in a powerless state to strive for their sustainable development, which effectively limits their chances of future survival.