Maldives assumes chairmanship of AOSIS

Maldives assumes the Chairmanship of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) on 1 January 2015.

A statement released by the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday read that, Maldives will lead the voices of small island states through an year of milestones during its tenure as the Chair.

The Maldives spearheaded the efforts to form AOSIS, following the first ever Small States Conference held on Sea Level Rise, held in Maldives in November 1989.

It was stated in the statement that in the past twenty-five years, Maldives, through national, regional and international efforts, has undertaken several initiatives and been an agent of change on a wide variety of issues related to climate change and environmental degradation. It was also noted that Maldives hopes to further strengthen the character and status of AOSIS as the norm entrepreneur and bridge builder during its term as Chair.

AOSIS is a coalition of Small Island and low-lying coastal countries that share similar development challenges and concerns about the environment, especially their vulnerability to the adverse effects of global climate change. It functions primarily as an ad hoc lobby and negotiating voice for Small Island developing States (SIDS) within the United Nations system.