Pacific island leaders have urged a promised global transition away from fossil fuels must not be left open to renegotiation as they gather in tiny Tuvalu in a bid to build momentum before a major climate summit. About 50 dignitaries – 14 national heads including Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, a list of climate change ministers and the heads of global agencies – flew to the low-lying atoll nation in a bid to bring attention to the plight of the countries most at risk from the climate crisis. As a showcase for the remote Pacific promised by Albanese, things could have gone more smoothly.
Tuvalu was wet and grey, and the capital of Funafuti – spectacular from the air on a clear day – was visible only in strips between heavy rain clouds during descent. The visit was promised by the Albanese government last year as part of a compromise deal when it missed out on hosting the Cop31 conference. The event will be in Turkey next month; the Pacific is hosting a preparatory meeting, mostly in Fiji.
Speaking at a “saultalaga” – an exchange of views around a meeting table – at the end of a three-hour visit, a string of leaders argued the world must stand behind a 2023 agreement, made at a UN summit in Dubai, to transition away from fossil fuels. More recently it has faced wavering support, with pushback particularly led by oil-producing nations. Tuvalu is among a handful of countries most at risk from the climate crisis.
A collection of three reef islands and six atolls, it is mostly less than 2 metres above sea level. About half its population of 10,600 live in a corner of Funafuti. The visitors heard from Melelusi Sokotia, a 13-year-old local student.
She said her friends dreamed of “becoming teachers, doctors, builders” but spent their lives wondering if their island would be safe to live on when they were adults. We are asking for help and partnership. Please work together to protect small islands like ours.” The Fijian prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, said with the world on the brink of overshooting the goal of limiting global heating to 1.5C – agreed in the 2015 Paris agreement – and facing a super El Niño, it must bring forward plans to cut emissions.
It is in line with our agreement, our obligation, and the scientific reality,” he said. It is not a new ask, and it is not open for renegotiation.” Tuvalu’s prime minister, Feleti Teo, stressed island states needed faster access to global climate funding to deal with worsening extreme events. We should not have to borrow our way out of a crisis.” The visit came less than a week after an Australian state regulator approved the latest of more than 30 fossil fuel developments to have been given the greenlight in the country in less than five years.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
