Page 15 - IB March 2025

Analysis Analysis

engage members of the Pacific Islands Forum in discussions A common purpose of asserting newly acquired sovereignty,
of peace and security – including the impacts of intensifying together with a common identity, united Pacific Island
geopolitical rivalries. countries as they transitioned from colonial to independent
But more ways need to be found to build trust and status over half a century ago.
confidence between Pacific Island leaders (and between their We are today witnessing a regional order transition of yet
officials) so that they have the difficult—and confronting— unknown magnitude. If the Pacific Island states are to shape
conversations. this transition (and not simply react to it), they will need to
Moreover, the Pacific way of ‘open and respectful dialogue’ come together behind a new common purpose – one that will
needs to be reclaimed and harnessed for this purpose and not determine their future just as profoundly as decolonization
be used as an excuse for avoiding sensitive subjects. did. The drivers and enablers for this collective endeavor
Some of these conversations need to be held between the already exist. We are not starting from scratch. But as always,
Pacific Island states themselves, without other partners in the it requires political will and courage, not just rhetoric, to
room to influence and shape the discussion. Of importance is make it happen.
the need to address the concern—which we now hear being
voiced—that (some) regional processes are being ‘hijacked’ Dr Sandra Tarte is Associate Professor, School of Law and
by external partners to serve their own political and military Social Sciences, University of the South Pacific. The views
agendas. expressed are personal.

Climate Change

WALANDE, CLIMATE DISPLACEMENT

AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Continued from page 11 Recognising the growing need to address cultural loss through
pastoral care, the updated declaration calls for “Pacific
interests based on age, gender and access to land. Many churches to work with partners to develop a network for
displaced peoples are grappling with challenges to the old trauma counselling that addresses the fear, worry, distress
order: in a new location, for example, will women get access and damage caused by climate change and climate-induced
to land rights in ways that differ from traditional ownership migration.”
in their previous home? Are chiefs still chiefs if they are no The challenge is growing across hundreds of islands, even
longer customary landowners? What greater role can young as overseas donors shift resources away from development
people play in decision making, given they will live on through assistance and climate finance towards wars and tax benefits
the worsening conditions predicted by climate scientists in for wealthy citizens. What support can climate displaced
coming decades? communities now expect from governments, even as they
Churches across the Pacific, which have long provided mobilise themselves to map community vulnerability and
support to uprooted peoples, have been grappling with these prepare for the rising seas?
concerns for many years. The HRW report “There’s Just No More Land” includes
In 2004, members of the Pacific Conference of Churches a series of recommendations for Pacific governments and
(PCC) gathered in Kiribati to develop their collective international donors, on how to integrate displacement and
response to the climate emergency. They adopted the relocation into disaster planning policy. As always, more
Otin Taai Declaration on Climate Change, which posed the resources are needed: between 2011-2021, Solomon Islanders
responsibility for theological, pastoral and practical support received an average of US$20 per person, per year in foreign
for communities affected by climate change. aid for climate adaptation. For Erica Bowers, “this is far, far
Fast forward 20 years, and the PCC gathered again in less than what is needed. People need small, incremental but
Suva in May 2024 on the 20th anniversary of the Otin Taai concrete assistance to address current concerns. It’s about
Declaration, to revisit and update their commitment to livelihoods today, it’s about finding access to food today.”
climate action. Alongside advocacy on emissions reduction “The landscape of funding at a global scale is changing,”
and climate finance, church leaders recognised the particular she added. “It is essential that climate adaptation, especially
psychological, spiritual and emotional trauma resulting from for communities like Walande, is not forgotten or pushed off
climate displacement. the table. There’s a lot of competing priorities right now, but
The meeting adopted the Tuākoi ‘Lei Declaration, using reducing risks today, helping communities adapt today, will
the Tuvaluan term for Good Neighbour or Loving Neighbour. enable them in future to thrive, not just survive.”

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