Tonga’s Prime Minister and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, made a resounding call for urgent and transformative climate action during the Summit of the Future at the United Nations. 

Speaking on behalf of the 18 member states of the Pacific Islands Forum, Sovaleni highlighted the existential threat posed by climate change to the Pacific region and urged world leaders to accelerate their commitments to cut emissions and deliver on climate finance pledges.

“Climate change is not just a Pacific issue; it’s a global crisis,” Sovaleni said.

“We call for urgent and transformative global action to limit warming to 1.5°C. We also call for stronger commitments from industrialised nations to cut emissions and ensure climate finance commitments are accessible to Pacific Island nations.”

For the Pacific Islands, the battle against climate change is not a distant issue but a matter of survival. Sovaleni made it clear that the impact of rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and ocean acidification threaten not only the livelihoods of Pacific Islanders but their very existence.

“We are on the frontlines of the climate crisis,” Sovaleni told the plenary session. “The increasing frequency, intensity, and scale of climate impacts are already devastating our communities. Without immediate global action, entire Pacific nations risk becoming uninhabitable.”

Sovaleni highlighted the recent declarations by the Pacific Islands Forum, including the 2023 Pacific Islands Forum Declaration on the Continuity of Statehood and the Protection of Persons in the Face of Climate Change-Related Sea-Level Rise, which addresses the legal and human rights challenges faced by Pacific communities as they grapple with climate-induced displacement.

“The Pacific is innovating to build our regional resilience,” he said, citing initiatives like the Pacific Resilience Facility(PRF), which is the first Pacific-led and managed disaster response fund, and the Pacific Islands Forum Declaration on Preserving Maritime Zones, which seeks to safeguard maritime territories regardless of sea-level rise.

Sovaleni didn’t mince words when addressing the inadequacies of the current global governance structures.

He pointed out that institutions like the United Nations must evolve to reflect the realities of small island developing states, which are often overlooked or sidelined in international decision-making.

“The current multilateral system must evolve to address the unique and often overlooked vulnerabilities of regions like the Blue Pacific,” he said. 

“Global institutions must step up to reflect the realities of Small Island Developing States, including through greater representation in decision-making bodies such as the United Nations Security Council,” he said.

This call for reform comes at a time when Pacific nations are striving for greater inclusion and recognition in international forums. Sovaleni reiterated the need for the Pacific’s voice to be heard, particularly in discussions around climate action and resilience.

“We will ensure our active inclusion and role in shaping a global governance framework that reflects fairness, equity, and justice for all nations, large and small,” he said.

In addition to the climate crisis, Sovaleni also emphasised the need for peace and stability in the region. 

He highlighted that the Pacific Islands Forum remains committed to principles of peace, democracy, and human security.

“There is no security without peace, and peace within our Blue Pacific continent is something that we do not take for granted,” Sovaleni said. 

He announced that the Pacific Islands Forum is currently developing an Ocean of Peace Declaration, which will further reinforce the region’s commitment to maintaining peace and security within the Pacific.

“We are committed to the principles of peaceful resolution of disputes and supporting a rules-based international order,” he added.

While Pacific nations await global action, they have not stood idle. Sovaleni proudly pointed to the region’s initiatives aimed at bolstering its resilience to climate impacts, particularly in the face of slow progress on international climate finance.

“Our region has innovated to build our resilience,” he said. “Through initiatives like the Pacific Resilience Facility, we are leading the way in climate and disaster response, building our capacity to manage and mitigate the impacts of climate change.”

He also discussed the Pacific Regional Framework on Climate Mobility, which addresses the issue of climate-induced migration, and the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific, which connects climate change, disaster risk, and sustainable development.

However, Sovaleni stressed that these regional efforts must be matched by global action, particularly from the world’s largest emitters and wealthiest nations.

He urged industrialised countries to deliver on their climate finance commitments, which have often fallen short of expectations.

“Accessing climate finance is very difficult. It’s something Pacific leaders acknowledge at every meeting,” he said. “We call for stronger commitments from industrialised nations to cut emissions and ensure climate finance commitments are accessible for Pacific Island nations.”

In his address, Sovaleni also confirmed that Pacific nations are set to partner with Australia to co-host the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This collaboration, he said, highlights the Pacific’s central role in global climate negotiations.

“As you know, this is an initiative by Australia, which includes the Pacific in hosting COP31, and we welcome it,” Sovaleni said. 

He revealed that a ministerial-level meeting between Pacific Island leaders and Australia will be held soon to finalise details of the collaboration.

“This partnership is an excellent opportunity for the Pacific to be at the forefront of global climate discussions and ensure that our voices are heard,” he said.

Sovaleni stressed that the decisions made today will have far-reaching consequences for future generations. 

He called on world leaders to act with urgency, courage, and resolve to secure a more equitable, secure, and sustainable future.

“The future isn’t just ours to imagine; it’s ours to build—with urgency and unwavering resolve,” he said. “For the peoples of the Blue Pacific region, our intergenerational responsibility is more than policy. It is a sacred duty,” said Forum Chair Sovaleni.

This story was written by Pita Ligaiula, originally published at PACNEWS on 24 September 2024.