By Katalina Siasau
As the Pacific heads into COP 29 in Azerbaijan, today, Pacific Islands Forum Chair, Prime Minister Hon, Hu’akavameiliku 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 Hon. 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 suffer the most.
“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,” said PIF Secretary General Baron Waqa.
There are seven regional thematic priorities being championed for COP29 including: Climate Finance, Oceans and climate nexus, Just Transition, Mitigation, Adaptation, Gender and Social Inclusion, and Loss & Damage.
Meanwhile, delegation from the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) and the Prime Minister's office will attend important side events at COP 29.
COP 29
COP 29 is the United Nations Climate Change Conference taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November.
UN Climate Change Conferences (or COPs) take place every year, and is where the world comes together to agree on the actions to address the climate crisis, such as limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, helping vulnerable communities adapt to the effects of climate change, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
COP 29 will bring together world leaders and negotiators from the member states (or Parties) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to further global progress, with business leaders, young people, climate scientists, Indigenous Peoples, and civil society sharing insights and best practices to strengthen global, collective, and inclusive climate action.
Among the key priorities of COP 29 are securing a new goal on climate finance, ensuring every country has the means to take much stronger climate action, slashing greenhouse gas emissions, and building resilient communities.
Also in focus will be the next round of national climate plans, or NDCs, currently being developed by countries ahead of next year’s deadline and ensuring these bolder, fully implementable and investable strategies and targets are economy-wide, focus on transitioning away from fossil fuels, and keep the world on track to 1.5 degrees of warming.
