High Level Statement delivered by the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Baron Waqa
at COP 29, Baku, Azerbaijan.
20 November 2024.
Mr President,
Excellencies,
Warm Pacific greetings.
For our Pacific Island nations, climate change poses the single greatest existential threat to our survival. The rising sea levels in our blue Pacific Ocean endanger our lives, our culture and traditions.
The 1.5-degree goal in the Paris Agreement represents a critical threshold in our fight for survival.
The reality is that we need substantial and timely climate finance to protect our small island developing states.
With this in mind, here at COP29, we expect the New Collective Quantified Goal to offer accessible, simplified funding that reflects our unique circumstances.
In parallel, the Pacific Resilience Facility, a Pacific-led solution to address the issue of access to climate finance, is set to be operational in 2026. I acknowledge and thank our partners who have generously committed to supporting this Facility. Your contributions are not just financial; they are a lifeline for our future, and I invite additional contributions to strengthen our collective efforts.
Mr President, financial support alone cannot save our planet without tackling the root causes of climate change. For us in the Pacific, transitioning from fossil fuel must be just and equitable to prevent unfair burdens on our communities.
Your Excellencies, the Pacific is at the forefront of the climate crisis. For this reason, our Leaders welcome the opportunity to co-host a Pacific COP31 in Australia.
This partnership will allow us to welcome you all to our shores and underscore the urgent threat climate change poses to our communities and our future.
Excellencies, we save the Pacific; we save the world. Let us not leave here with the future of our Blue Planet hanging in the balance.
I thank you.
[ENDS]
