What happened
Galumalemana Anne Rasmussen, the chief climate negotiator for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), said the outcome of COP31 should be judged by whether it protects the Paris Agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C.
Speaking ahead of the COP31 summit due to take place in Antalya, Rasmussen said small island states need quicker climate action and improved access to funding for adaptation. She said these countries are experiencing sea-level rise, flooding, coastal erosion and ecosystem damage, while destructive storms can damage power networks and force governments to borrow for reconstruction.
Rasmussen said climate impacts, vulnerability and debt reinforce one another for small island states. She also said that less than 2% of adaptation funding reaches those states, citing a United Nations Environment Programme report.
Why it matters
Türkiye’s role as COP31 host places the summit at the centre of discussions on emissions cuts, adaptation and climate finance. Rasmussen argued that major emitters and developed countries must take greater responsibility for delivering on existing climate commitments.
For countries vulnerable to climate impacts, the central issue is not only the scale of finance but also whether it is accessible in time to support national climate plans and investment-ready projects. Rasmussen said the Loss and Damage Fund also lacks sufficient funding.
The comments underline the link between international climate decisions and the costs faced by countries managing climate damage, adaptation needs and debt. The material does not set out specific new compliance requirements for Turkish or EU businesses.
Background
Rasmussen referred to the first global stocktake under the UN climate process, which identified actions needed to narrow the gap between current emissions and climate goals. She said its roadmap should be put into effect while preparations for the second stocktake continue.
She also said climate change is already affecting health and livelihoods through severe floods, droughts and storms. In her assessment, the obstacle is not a lack of solutions but insufficient implementation by governments, particularly high-emitting countries.
What's next
AOSIS will seek COP31 decisions that turn earlier commitments into action. Rasmussen highlighted an urgent and equitable move away from fossil fuels to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, alongside tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling the global rate of energy-efficiency improvement by 2030.
She said a substantive solution on finance access for small island states and least developed countries would be an important test for the Antalya summit.
