The Fossil Fuel Treaty aims to halt the expansion of fossil fuels and pave the way for an equitable clean energy transition. RMI, highly vulnerable to the climate crisis, understands the urgency of preventing the further development and use of fossil fuels. With a small landmass (181 sq km) averaging just two meters above sea-level and a population of 42,418, all of RMI’s territory is imminently threatened by rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and extreme weather. A one-meter rise could inundate 40% of their capital and largest city, Majuro.

First Ministerial meeting of the 13 nations discuss pathways to secure a negotiating mandate for a Fossil Fuel Treaty, and how to bring more countries on board 

In the lead-up to SIDS4, the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative convened on Sunday (26th) in Antigua and Barbuda the first meeting of the endorsing nations leading an effort to secure a negotiating mandate for a Treaty. The meeting was hosted by the SIDS 4 host nation, Antigua and Barbuda, the first Caribbean country to endorse the Treaty, in collaboration with the Governments of Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

The growing coalition of now 13 countries - Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Tonga, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Niue, Antigua and Barbuda, Timor-Leste, Palau, Colombia, Samoa, Nauru, and the Marshall Islands - is urging other governments to join them in seeking a mandate to negotiate a new Treaty on fossil fuels. The proposed Treaty is a new legal mechanism that will secure an equitable transition away from oil, gas, and coal, and the world’s chance to stay within the 1.5°C climate limit. 

The SIDS4 conference is a global event dedicated to tackling the distinct vulnerabilities and challenges of small island states, fostering sustainable development through international collaboration, strengthening resilience against the climate crisis, and advancing economic, social, and environmental progress. The summit serves as a crucial platform for island nations to advocate for ambitious climate action on a global scale set against an escalating planetary crisis of climate breakdown, associated with pollution and biodiversity loss.

SIDS are particularly impacted by fossil fuels and their dependency on them, facing rising sea levels, increased extreme weather events, and economic instability due to fluctuating energy prices. As some examples, the Solomon Islands have seen severe coastal erosion, while Fiji has experienced devastating cyclones exacerbated by climate change, and islands across the Caribbean continue to be ravaged by more frequent and more intense hurricanes. 

With the accession of Marshall Islands, the Fossil Fuel Treaty proposal has 12 out of the 39 SIDS nations on board. Notably, the Republic of Colombia, a major developing nation and coal and gas producer, also joined the movement at COP28. This growing international support, which now includes 13 countries, over 100 cities, more than 2,000 civil society organizations, and half a million individuals, underscores the global need to phase out fossil fuels and embrace clean energy solutions, particularly for vulnerable nations like SIDS and the RMI.