Page 19 - IB November 2024

COP29 COP29

Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo Anne Rasmussen of Samoa at COP29 Trevor Manemahaga, Minister for Environment,
Solomon Islands. Photos: IISDENB/ Mike Muzurakis
Oceania COP31, and are demanding that Australia do more to our leaders welcome the opportunity to co-host a Pacific
cut emissions. COP31 in Australia.”
The Regional Director for Pacific Islands Climate Network While Pacific leaders show their support for Australia, what
(PICAN), Rufino Varea, told Islands Business that a Pacific COP an Australia-Pacific COP would look like is still unclear. This
must include first nations and Pacific voices. stems from the differing stands on certain agenda items.
“COP31 would need to be truly guided by First Nations Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
and Pacific priorities, ensuring that Indigenous voices aren’t (SPREP) Director General Sefanaia Nawadra, says this is not
sidelined but play a central role in driving decisions,” Rufino new, and navigating these challenges is familiar water.
said. “We realise we have differences between the Pacific and
In Azerbaijan, Maria Cutmore told Islands Business: the region, but at the end of the day, we come from the
“Australia is not doing enough for the first nations; we have same region. We have a long history of being able to resolve
come all the way here so our voices can be heard because we our differences, and where we are not able to resolve it, we
don’t feel heard by the Australian government.” agree to disagree on certain aspects,” Nawadra said.
Rufino observes that while Australia is positioning itself at “It is not like the Pacific will be following the Australian
COP29 as “a renewable superpower”, that should not take agenda in full; there will be areas where there will be
focus away from “addressing fossil fuel phase-out”. differences, but that won't stop us from co-hosting with
Australia pledged AU$50 million to the Loss and Damage Australia,” he adds.
Fund at COP29. Vanuatu Ambassador San Ian Williams echoes these views
While that is welcome news to the Pacific, Oxfam Australia and says an Oceania COP would be an important time for the
called on Australia to go the extra mile by spearheading the Pacific to make its case.
support for loss and damage in the new global climate fund in Ambassador Williams said: “If we don’t engage in a
solidarity with the Pacific. multilateral process such as this, then I think we won’t
Shiva Gounden from Greenpeace Australia observed: be heard on the international stage, especially with big
“Australia’s announcement today of a AU$50 million pledge countries, when we are trying to present our case with major
into the loss and damage fund helps its case significantly to climate evidence.”
cohost COP31 with the Pacific if the bid is successful. Salā Dr George Carter adds that a joint COP would be
“Pacific civil society and government have been vocal on unique, as it would be the first where a whole region is
Australia adding to that fund, not just for the Pacific, but for involved, rather than one or two nations. This can be of great
all climate-vulnerable nations. advantage for the Pacific, as messaging for COPs is always led
“The Pacific has shown their support for Australia putting in by COP presidents, he adds.
a joint bid, as it will provide the platform for Pacific demands “We have never seen a region hold the presidency or
for climate justice to be centered in our own turf, but that share the role of shaping negotiations, so when we take our
doesn’t mean that Australia doesn’t need to address its messages, not as negotiable, not just as advocates, but we
current emissions urgently and stop the expansions of fossil take some of these messages from a presidency level,” Carter
fuel.” said.
“It will be more powerful, as leaders around the world
Pacific Leaders endorse the Australia-Pacific COP will come to the Pacific and be able to witness firsthand how
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa publicly climate has impacted the community, so they can see what
announced the Pacific leaders’ support for an Australian- sea-level rise has done to the community, and we will have a
Pacific COP at the COP29 high-level season, noting: “The stronger presence as many of our own people will be present,
Pacific is at the forefront of the climate crisis. For this reason, as it is closer to home.”

Islands Business, November 2024 19