Page 28 - Islands Business October 2024 edition

COP29 COP29

Dignatories at CHOGM (L-R): Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, King Charles, Queen Camilla, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland.
Photo: Commonwealth Secretariat

COP29 – ACTION, NOT TALK

By Netani Rika surprised CHOGM delegates with the announcement that it
would not attend the global conference in Baku.
PACIFIC leaders head for Azerbaijan and COP29 in PNG Foreign Affairs Minister, Justin Tkatchenko, said the
November, buoyed by recognition at the Commonwealth decision was designed as a stand on behalf of small island
Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa of the dangers of nations as a protest against “empty promises and inaction’’.
climate change to the region and the world. The Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) has decided to
King Charles —head of the Commonwealth—told CHOGM hold a series of side events in the region and virtually to
members that climate change was an existential threat. highlight climate change, rather than attend talks which it
“We are well past believing it is a problem for the future, believes are dominated by large countries and corporations.
since it is already, already undermining the development gains “We need to take immediate, practical and sometimes
we have long fought for,’’ King Charles said. home-grown steps to address issues around us,’’ said Pacific
“This year alone, we have seen terrifying storms in the Conference of Churches General Secretary, Reverend James
Caribbean, devastating flooding in East Africa and catastrophic Bhagwan, who is recognised as a regional advocate on COP
wildfires in Canada. Lives, livelihoods and human rights are at and climate change.
risk across the Commonwealth.’’ “The PCC has seriously reviewed its participation at COP.
Interestingly, he made no comments about the threats to We’ve moved from advocacy at the event to accompaniment
communities in Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, and Tuvalu, of church leaders, providing expert advice, being a voice for
despite speaking in Samoa in the middle of the Pacific Ocean communities – now it’s time for a fresh approach.’’
which rises each year. But many Pacific nations will attend COP29 to support
And this is the challenge for the Pacific as it heads towards Australia’s bid to jointly host the event with its smaller
COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, a leading petroleum producer regional neighbours in 2026.
and exporter. How do they make the world take notice of However, several observers note that Australia’s bid to host
the existential threat to which King Charles referred in his and CHOGM’s in its final outcome statement makes no specific
address? calls to end fossil fuel extraction.
Some countries have had enough. Papua New Guinea Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, claimed his

28 Islands Business, October 2024