Page 22 - IB December 2023

Our Blue Pacific 1.5 journey to COP28
Op-Ed

Pacific Political Climate Champions: In a global crisis, - The Pacific Political Climate Champions

amplifying Pacific messages benefits the world.

With Henry Puna, former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum.
“The future of all men, women and children, all cultures, cities, villages ambition and a dizzying round of public
hang in the balance. We must not remain indecisive going forward. To those pledges. But there are some old realities
of us whose survival is at stake, our plea is simple—let us give substance to which remain, and the realities of
the pledges that have been made.” negotiating texts across all too familiar
Powerful words like these, spoken by Pacific and global leaders at COP21 in terrain for many COP veterans, are all
2015, were once more mirrored across the opening plenary of COP28 in 2023. too evident.
That Paris Agreement outcome gave our world leaders cause to hold hands For our eight Pacific political
to the sky, representing a long journey since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio. It champions, endorsed by their family
was the moment when the world promised itself a 1.5 net-zero future by 2050. of Pacific leaders across this Blue
It’s been eight years since that heady moment as the final gavel fell and the Continent, the priorities for our region
crescendo of applause filled a hall where hands were raised in victory. For me, are clear. They will progress our
it was a heady moment for a closing plenary of these climate negotiations. But positions on the Ocean-Climate Nexus,
that was eight years ago, and the flood of words continues to outweigh the the Global Stocktake, Climate Finance,
action and delivery of its bold promises. Loss and Damage, a Just Transition,
For a moment, let’s keep the focus on being bold. In November 2023, as Mitigation, Adaptation, Gender, and
I write this, Vanuatu – the nation that led the global momentum for the ICJ Social Inclusion. Importantly, they will
advisory opinion on human rights and climate change, is dealing with the Henry Puna build on the work of the five inaugural
costly aftermath of a category 5 cyclone. Tuvalu is confronting the sobering Pacific high-level political champions at
reality of a growing diaspora population, forging a cloud-based digital version COP26 in Glasgow.
of itself, and setting the pace for new sovereign realities facing low-lying Every COP and host nation presents a range of opportunities. The first
atolls everywhere. Through a Higher-Ground initiative to transform former Global Stocktake at COP28 will be a milestone reporting moment. The global One Blue Ocean, One Blue Action and impact for the
mining sites into a net-zero urban habitat for its people, Nauru is proactively stocktake will be a necessary wake-up call. It will reveal the gaps in progress
futureproofing for the internal displacement of an entire nation. And here at and implementation. This is a good thing. It must catalyse and course-correct Planet: The Ocean-Climate Paris Agreement: The Global
the COP28, our AOSIS and PSIDS leaders of those with the ‘moral authority’ to cut emissions by more than 40 percent by 2030 if we want to achieve near-
are making waves, raising tens and hundreds of millions in support for climate zero emissions by 2050. Nexus Stocktake
resilience, and owning the perception that we are region that is not drowning, We live with the deepening consequences of an overheating planet, with
but fighting. world temperatures already spiking to record levels in 2023. The science is
From all corners of the blue continent, Pacific nations are not passively sobering. The polite dance of policy and diplomacy cannot get in the way
waiting for the next disaster to decimate our homes and claim lives. Our islands of what the world requires—announcements, decisions, and innovations Fiji Prime Minister, Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka, is our Pacific Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown, is our Pacific
are not waiting for climate finance to become accessible. Or holding our affirming urgency, action, ambition, and global responsibility must be the next Political Climate Champion on the Ocean-Climate Nexus. Political Climate Champion on the Global Stocktake.
breath for recognition of the multiple dimensions of vulnerability index which steps following the momentum of that opening plenary in UAE.
could flip dated global development systems needing repair. Our people are The 28 annual meeting on climate change must lean into its core role The ocean-climate nexus is growing in importance The global stocktake is about the status of implementation
th
a leading voice on a new international plastics treaty. Our nations are leading and set the course for global action on climate. COP28 must be a window of but has always been a vital component of Pacific climate of the Paris Agreement. The basis of the Global Stocktake
a new non-proliferation treaty on Fossil Fuels. Our leaders have declared the opportunity to enable moral authority and global responsibility to ensure a resilience and livelihoods. It is vitally linked to our food is predicated upon science, and how adequate the global
perpetuity of our maritime borders and sovereignty against the impacts of sea closing moment equal to that closing COP21 plenary in 2015.
level rise. They’ve endorsed a future-facing Pacific strategy to 2050 and told As COP28 heads towards the final gavel on December 12, I will repeat a security, economies, livelihoods, and cultural identity. community has been in meeting the overall goal of the Paris
global partners coming to the region to align with and respect its vision and line from my own national statement from the COP21 podium in 2015. It is a Agreement, that of reach the 1.5 degree C temperature goal.
implementation plan. message I have repeated too many times since then—sadly, these are words Our nations seek greater inclusion and implementation
Even as post-COVID recovery, global conflict, and escalating geo-political keeping more of us awake at night: “We cannot delay. We must not delay. The of Ocean components in the UNFCCC negotiations, and Mobilising political momentum from the Pacific region to
pressures continue to add to the environmental urgencies confronting all time for action is now.” for including measures to protect the ocean in National ensure the Global Stock meets this Goal must be translated
nations, our Blue Pacific nations are resilient. They are reclaiming, rethinking, Adaptation Plans and Nationally Determined Contributions into urgent and meaningful action, such as the increasing and
and renewing with the resources they have. They are raising their voices,
making choices as sovereign nations and a collective region. We seek access and increased sustainable financing for critical need to reduce global emissions, is the core task for
But we know the difference between those milestone moments that catapult the Global Stocktake champion.
the journey and the COP-related challenges that seek to divert it. the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 –
Our Pacific Political champions on climate are part of that solution. They Life below water. The results of the first global stocktake needs to catalyse
recognize the power and passion of our Youth Climate Champions. It has Our Leaders will continue to rally, lead, and share best the direction the world needs to move toward the 2 Global
nd
helped galvanize their wish for partnership and legacy. Stocktake.
From all corners, corridors, and conversations the Pacific Political practices and encourage respective Parties to commit to
Champions will do their utmost to clear the way for what is happening inside Ocean action. The global stocktake is a cross-cutting inventory that
the negotiation huddles. They will have from now until their term wraps after covers every issue under the Paris Agreement, such as Loss
the 2024 COP, to raise Pacific voice on their specific asks alongside other and Damage, Ocean-Climate Nexus, Gender and Social
leaders, other Pacific champions, and all partners supporting the tireless
efforts of our negotiators. Inclusion, Just Transition, Adaptation, Mitigation, and Climate
Together, they bring the experience of more than five decades of consensus Finance.
and the Pacific Way, where no one can be left behind.
In so doing, their efforts will strengthen the focus of our Youth Champions, Importantly, the Global Stocktake champion will advocate
our Civil Society leaders and longtime activists, the UNFCCC, and the UAE that COP28 sets robust and ambitious targets on that
Political Climate Champions. This COP28 has set new records in attendance, in pathway toward the 2 Global Stocktake Report in 2028.
nd

22 Islands Business, December 2023