Small Island States and the Paris Agreement

4 Pages Posted: 4 Jan 2019

See all articles by Maxine Burkett

Maxine Burkett

University of Hawaii at Manoa - William S. Richardson School of Law

Date Written: December 21, 2015

Abstract

Islands predominated in the Paris COP negotiations. From metaphor to moral compass to declarations of kinship — like President Obama’s — the small island developing states’ vulnerability, dignity, and ambitions served as a rudder. Among other significant provisions discussed below, the response of the Agreement and the decision text — the latter a supporting though not legally binding document — and to demands for capacity building and efficient, simplified procedures for accessing financial resources directly addressed small islands’ concerns. And so the closing movements of the meetings offered congratulatory and hortatory words from island representatives, including a spontaneous, harmonized chorus of Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds stressing the refrain, “Every little thing is gonna be alright."

Suggested Citation

Burkett, Maxine, Small Island States and the Paris Agreement (December 21, 2015). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3304471

Maxine Burkett (Contact Author)

University of Hawaii at Manoa - William S. Richardson School of Law ( email )

2515 Dole Street
Honolulu, HI 96822-2350
United States

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