Climate change and sea-level rise: Extract from the Mauritius Strategy, Chapter I, Paras 16-20

16. The adverse effects of climate change and sea-level rise present significant risks to the sustainable development of small island developing States, and the long term effects of climate change may threaten the very existence of some small island developing States. Based on the report of the Secretary-General on the review of progress in the implementation of the Programme of Action and other available data, small island developing States believe that they are already experiencing major adverse effects of climate change. Adaptation to adverse impacts of climate change and sea-level rise remains a major priority for small island developing States.

17. The international community reaffirms its commitment to achieving, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention’s ultimate objective of stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system, within a time frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner. Parties that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol to the Convention strongly urge all States that have not done so to ratify it in a timely manner.

18. In the context of paragraphs 16 and 17 above, the international community should:

(a) Fully implement the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and further promote international cooperation on climate change;
(b) Continue to take, in accordance with the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol, as applicable, steps to address climate change, including through: adaptation and mitigation in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities; and the effective implementation of the Kyoto Protocol by those countries that have ratified it;
(c) Promote increased energy efficiency and development and the use of renewable energy as a matter of priority, as well as advanced and cleaner fossil fuel technologies, inter alia, through public and/or private partnerships, market-oriented approaches, as well as supportive public policies and international cooperation, and support their use in small island developing States, where appropriate and in accordance with their national policies;
(d) Implement the Buenos Aires programme of work on adaptation and response measures, in particular those elements that are relevant to small island developing States;
(e) Work to facilitate and promote the development, transfer and dissemination to small island developing States of appropriate technologies and practices to address climate change;
(f) Build and enhance scientific and technological capabilities, including in small island developing States, inter alia, through continuing support to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for the exchange of scientific information and data, including where relevant to small island developing States;
(g) Enhance the implementation of national, regional and international strategies to monitor the Earth’s atmosphere, including as appropriate, strategies for integrated observations, inter alia, with the cooperation of relevant international organizations; and work with small island developing States to strengthen their involvement in monitoring and observing systems and enhance their access to and use of information.

19. Small island developing States, with the necessary support of the international community, including through the facilitation and improvement of access to existing resources and, where appropriate, through allocation of dedicated financial resources, will as an integral component of their national sustainable development strategies, where appropriate, develop and implement national adaptation strategies and facilitate regional and interregional cooperation, including within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

20. Small island developing States, with assistance from regional development banks and other financial institutions, as appropriate, should coordinate further, on a regional basis, to establish or strengthen national and regional climate-change coordination mechanisms.