the final agreement adopted in the absence of island states, who say they are “disconcerted” and criticize the text

The delegates from these countries, particularly exposed to the consequences of global warming, had not yet arrived at the plenary session when the president of the COP validated the agreement.

The blow of the gavel fell into confusion. At the time when the Emirati president of COP28, Sultan al-Jaber, recorded the signing of a final text on the results of the Paris agreement, Wednesday December 13, “the Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis) was not in the room”announced Anne Rasmussen, representative of Samoa and president of the organization. “We were working hard to coordinate the 39 countries that are disproportionately affected by climate change”she justified.

The president of COP28 had no more time to waste. “I hear no objection? It’s decided”, he declared at 11:15 a.m. (8:15 a.m. in France), triggering applause from the room, where the delegates, gathered since November 30, had barely sat down. After intense negotiations which extended the conference by twenty-four hours, it took Sultan al-Jaber only five minutes to adopt the final text inviting the signatory countries to gradually abandon fossil fuels.

We didn’t want to interrupt the ovation when we entered the room, but we are confused.

Anne Rasmussen, president of Aosis

at COP28

Moved, the representative of Samoa read the speech which she hoped to have time to deliver before the adoption of the text. Citing several paragraphs of the agreement, she said she feared, on certain points, “a flashback”. “We have come to the conclusion that the change in direction we need is not assured. (…) It is not enough to refer to the science and then ignore what the science tells us to do “she continued.

“We took a step forward from the status quo, but it was exponential change that we really needed”regretted Anne Rasmussen, applauded at length by many delegates present.

Despite its “dissatisfaction” vis-à-vis the adopted document, the Alliance of Island States did not, however, “not contested the adoption of the text, nor its legitimacy”. The consent of these countries is “a crucial element for the political stability of the agreement”observes the journalist from Guardian Patrick Greenfield.