Small island states advocacy at UN General Assembly

During the 81st UN General Assembly, representatives from São Tomé and Príncipe and Tonga advocated for systemic international reforms to address climate change and global governance.

Ilza Amado Vaz, Minister of Foreign Affairs for São Tomé and Príncipe, characterized the impact of global warming on small island states as a “profound climate injustice.” She called for the full operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund, easier access to the Green Climate Fund, and the use of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index to facilitate concessional financing. Vaz also urged for the reform of the UN Security Council to better reflect Africa’s demographic and political importance.

Tongan Prime Minister Fatafehi Fakafanua similarly called for a more representative UN Security Council and an international financial system that provides affordable, timely financing for vulnerable nations. He emphasized the ‘ocean-climate nexus,’ arguing that the international community must address climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution through a coordinated approach. Fakafanua also noted that the Pacific region faces immediate security threats, including transnational crime and illegal fishing.