“Pacific Islands Forum Chair Urges Urgent Climate Resilience Financing for Vulnerable Pacific Nations at COP29 Side Event “
Baku, Azerbaijan – November 14, 2024
At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, Prime Minister of Tonga and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, delivered an impactful speech at the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) side event, “Accelerating Climate Finance Access and Mobilization in the Pacific Region.” The event emphasized the urgent need to mobilize and make climate finance more accessible for Pacific Island nations. The message is aligned with the Forum’s theme for the year: “Transformative Resilient Pasifiki: Build Better Now.”
In his remarks, the Prime Minister highlighted the urgent challenges Pacific Island nations face due to intensifying climate hazards, such as rising sea levels, severe storms, and other environmental threats. He shared the impacts of the 2022 Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunami, which significantly damaged Tonga’s infrastructure and left the nation almost entirely isolated due to a complete breakdown in communications. “The experience underscored the need for diversified, resilient infrastructure to help protect lives and maintain connections to vital support in times of crisis,” he said.
The Pacific Islands have been heavily impacted by successive natural disasters, including Tropical Cyclones Gita in 2018 and Harold in 2020, which caused widespread destruction and required extended recovery efforts. With these events in mind, the Pacific Islands Forum has advanced the “Build Better Now” initiative to prioritize climate-resilient development and infrastructure capable of withstanding future shocks.
To support this, the Prime Minister discussed regional financing initiatives, such as the Pacific Resilience Fund and the Unlocking Blue Pacific Prosperity Fund, which aim to enable sustainable development and advance resilience measures across the Pacific. These sustainable mechanisms provide critical support, particularly in the sectors of health and education, which are essential to the well-being and stability of Pacific communities.
“We need timely and accessible financing at scale,” he urged, calling on both traditional and innovative funding partners to support the Pacific’s urgent climate resilience needs. “With our vulnerability to climate impacts, our communities need strong investments in resilience, ensuring we are better prepared for future challenges.”
The event concluded with a united call from Pacific leaders for enhanced international collaboration, so climate financing reaches the regions most vulnerable to climate change impacts. This partnership is essential to safeguarding the future of the Pacific and ensuring its communities can withstand and thrive amid the escalating climate crisis.