As the Pacific heads into COP29 in Azerbaijan, Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Prime Minister of Tonga Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni says the key goal for the negotiations must be to keep the 1.5-degree Celsius goal alive.
“Our survival cannot be compromised. Climate change is the single greatest threat to the livelihoods and security of the Pacific,” he said.
The Pacific as a region “is fully committed to ensure COP29 delivers on outcomes that benefit not just our people but mankind as a whole.”
PM Hu’akavameiliku says the longstanding commitment of Pacific leaders and negotiators since the first COP has helped to ensure recognition of the world’s most vulnerable nations, who have contributed the least to cause the current climate crisis yet to suffer the most.
“Efforts at COP29, will be further supported through our Pacific Political Climate Champions. The Pacific Political Climate Champions, coordinated by PIFS and supported by the One CROP team, will help to further elevate and spotlight Pacific regional priorities for urgent, deep climate change action,” he said.
The Pacific Political Climate Champions launched in 2021 at COP26, helped elevate Pacific priorities at the political level during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties.
Noting the importance of high-level political leadership in supporting the mandate of the Paris Agreement, PIF Secretary General Baron Waqa noted the Champions “and all Forum Leaders continue to emphasise the priorities of the Pacific Islands countries, including keeping the 1.5-degree goal alive and easy access to climate finance
“Our Pacific nations, and Forum Leaders have built momentum for 1.5 climate action, from the PIF leaders meeting, the United Nations General Assembly, Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting and now to COP 29. We cannot fail our people. The outcomes of COP 29 must deliver on the what is non-negotiable- our survival,” he said.
The seven regional thematic priorities being championed for COP29 are: Climate Finance, Oceans and climate nexus, Just Transition, Mitigation, Adaptation, Gender and Social Inclusion and Loss and Damage.
COP 29 will be held from 11-22 November 2024.
This story was originally published at PIFS on 10 November 2024, reposted via PACNEWS.
