Page 24 - Islands Business June 2023

Climate Change Climate Change

Photo: Charley Piringi

PACIFIC CLIMATE DIPLOMACY

MOVES BEYOND COPS

By Nic Maclellan • Inspired by an initiative from law students at the USP
Emalus campus, Vanuatu championed a successful resolu-
As negotiations stutter and stall with the United Nations tion through the UN General Assembly, seeking an advisory
Framework Convention on Climate Change, Pacific Island gov- opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on
ernments and communities are ramping up diplomatic efforts state obligations around human rights, environment and
to call for urgent action on fossil fuels. climate change.
There is increasing concern that the annual global climate
negotiations – the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties, or COPs • Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands have been joined by
– are failing to address the urgent need to reduce fossil fuel other Small Island Developing States to call on the Inter-
production and consumption. Island states are also angry that national Maritime Organisation (IMO) to establish a levy on
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development shipping emissions.
(OECD) countries have failed to meet their pledges to provide
the finance needed to address the adverse effects of climate • Pacific countries are a driving force in current negotia-
change. tions to establish a Loss and Damage Finance Facility,
In response, Pacific governments and communities are mov- to respond to unavoidable risks of climate change, like
ing beyond the COP framework, to launch a range of innova- cyclone damage, rising sea levels, prolonged heatwaves or
tive diplomatic initiatives, all highlighting the need for urgent the acidification of the oceans.
action to halt the expansion of fossil fuel production.
• Last March, six Forum Island Countries issued the Port Vila
• The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) has called for the trans- Call to Action, pledging to work towards a “Just Transi-
formation of international law to address the climate tion to a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific” and a global, equitable
crisis. One example is the 2021 Declaration on Preserving phase-out of coal, oil and gas. On 12 May, the Pacific Re-
Maritime Zones in the Face of Climate Change-related gional Energy and Transport Ministers’ Meeting (PRETMM)
Sea-Level Rise, pledging that “we intend to maintain issued a call for Forum leaders to formally endorse the
these zones without reduction, notwithstanding climate Port Vila agenda at their next summit, to be hosted by
change-related sea-level rise.” Cook Islands in November.

24 Islands Business, June 2023