Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas delivered a hard-hitting address to the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York Friday, slamming global inaction on climate change, international financial reform, and decolonisation.

In his speech, Tabimasmas criticised the continued global inaction on climate change, calling it a betrayal of the international community’s commitment to protecting vulnerable nations like Vanuatu from its devastating impacts.

“The window for real action to restore the health of this planet is fast closing on all of us,” Tabimasmas warned, highlighting the alarming findings of the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which predicts that global temperatures could exceed dangerous thresholds within the next decade.

While industrialised nations continue to advance their economies, Tabimasmas pointed out that small island developing states (SIDS) like Vanuatu bear the brunt of climate-induced disasters.

He stressed that these nations are increasingly vulnerable to intensifying cyclones, rising sea levels, and unpredictable weather patterns.

“If the current carbon emissions trajectory continues on its dangerous path, Vanuatu stands zero chance of fulfilling its development aspirations,” Tabimasmas said. 

He cited that Vanuatu has lost over half of its GDP each time a severe cyclone struck the country in recent years, including five major cyclones over the past three years. “These disasters set us back by decades, and the livelihoods of our people are being wiped out,” he added.

The Vanuatu leader emphasised that climate action is a global responsibility, and he called for industrialised nations to be held accountable for their contributions to the climate crisis.

“Our collective failures to confront climate change, boost international development finance, and secure global peace continue to undermine progress for small island states like Vanuatu,” he said.

Tabimasmas reiterated Vanuatu’s bold initiative to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on states’ legal obligations concerning climate change. The initiative, which garnered the support of 95 countries, aims to provide legal clarity on states’ responsibilities to mitigate climate change and its effects. 

“This is not about naming or shaming any particular nation,” Tabimasmas explained. “It seeks to highlight the existing rules of international law and their consequences for all nations. We need shared understanding, responsibility, and accountability.”

“I call on all UN member states, especially other climate-vulnerable nations, to be part of these historic hearings, which begin on 02 December 2024. Your voices are crucial in ensuring the court fully grasps the implications of climate change for those most affected.”

The Prime Minister’s speech also touched on the pressing need for reforms to the global economic and financial architecture.

He criticised the current international financial system for being outdated and ill-suited to the needs of small economies like Vanuatu, which are increasingly vulnerable to climate-induced disasters, rising debt levels, and financial instability.

“The current international monetary and financial system must be restructured to reflect the evolving global realities,” Tabimasmas said. 

He called for sweeping reforms to the Bretton Woods Institutions and urged the establishment of an international sovereign debt workout mechanism to help countries like Vanuatu recover from their growing debt crises.

“Small island economies are facing multiple crises, with rising borrowing costs and increasing debt distress. We need tailored support and affordable long-term finance to ensure our recovery and resilience in the face of these challenges,” Tabimasmas said.

He pointed to Vanuatu’s transition from a Least Developed Country (LDC) to a developing state, noting that this graduation has brought new challenges and vulnerabilities. “We need our development partners to support us with a gradual and predictable phase-out of LDC-specific assistance, so we can navigate these challenges successfully,” he added.

Tabimasmas welcomed the global call for an overhaul of the financial system at the UN’s “Summit of the Future” and urged global leaders to rally behind the implementation of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) to help vulnerable countries access financing. 

“Financing is the fuel for development, yet our ability to access it is severely limited. The international financial system must be inclusive, fair, and responsive to the realities we face,” he explained.

Tabimasmas highlighted the urgent need for a new global finance mechanism to address climate-related Loss and Damage and to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.

“We must recognise the disproportionate burden placed on vulnerable countries like Vanuatu, where climate disasters continuously reverse years of development gains,” he said.

He also addressed the growing global adaptation finance gap, which, according to the latest Adaptation Fund report, ranges between US$194 billion and US$366 billion per year. 

“As a country on the frontlines of climate disasters, we call for realistic financing goals that support resilience and address Loss and Damage,” Tabimasmas urged.

One of the most striking parts of his address was his call for the recognition of ecocide as a crime under international law. 

Vanuatu has formally proposed this measure to the International Criminal Court (ICC), with the backing of Pacific Island nations such as Fiji and Samoa. 

“We believe it is of crucial importance to prevent the severest harms to our planet’s ecosystems before they occur” he declared, expressing his confidence in growing international support for this initiative.

Turning his attention to regional security and decolonisation, Tabimasmas voiced Vanuatu’s continued support for the self-determination of indigenous peoples in New Caledonia and West Papua.

He called on the UN to ensure that New Caledonia remains on the decolonisation list until the rights of its indigenous people are fully respected.

“In the past few months, the first people of New Caledonia were not content with the manner in which the third referendum for political independence from France was conducted. As a result, riots took place which led to several deaths and stalling of economic activity. The right of the first people to their lands, oceans and culture must be recognised and respected” he said. 

He urged France to engage with the first people of New Caledonia to address their political future in a meaningful way.

“I urged the first people of New Caledonia to work together with France to address their political future. In the meantime, New Caledonia must remain in the decolonisation list,” he said.

Tabimasmas also called for greater autonomy for West Papua, encouraging the Indonesian government to grant more decision-making power to the indigenous people there.”

“In a similar vein, we call for the right of the first people in West Papua over their customary land and culture must be respected and I plead that they work mutually with the Government of Indonesia to address their challenges and for greater autonomy to be accorded to West Papua for greater participation in decision making,” he said. 

Tabimasmas  also urged the United Nations to reform its Security Council to make it more responsive to modern challenges, especially in maintaining international peace and security. He stressed that the continued existence of nuclear weapons, coupled with heightened global tensions, poses a significant threat to world peace.

“We call for a renewed effort to resolve the impasse in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

It is time for the Security Council to meet the challenges of our time and ensure the safety of future generations,” he said

The Vanuatu Prime Minister concluded his address with a call for collective action, urging UN member states to support the push for justice and reform.

“We need peace for sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations. We need action on climate finance and economic reforms to fuel that development. Together, we can accelerate progress for our people and our planet.

“Let us act now, before it is too late,” he said.

This story was written by Pita Ligaiula, originally published at PACNEWS on 30 September 2024.