Leaders’ Summit of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on Climate Change: Pacific Islands Forum Chair’s Opening Address Highlights Urgent Climate Actions
Baku, Azerbaijan – November 13, 2024
At today’s Leaders’ Summit of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on Climate Change, held during COP29 and initiated by the Republic of Azerbaijan as the COP29 Presidency, Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum delivered a statement on behalf of the Forum. This speech highlighted the climate-related existential threats faced by the Pacific region and underscored the urgent need for unified, meaningful action on the global stage.
In his address, Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku expressed his deep gratitude for Azerbaijan’s hospitality and commended the COP29 President, H.E. Mukhtar Babayev for his leadership. The Prime Minister emphasized the acute climate vulnerabilities facing the Pacific SIDS, where rising sea levels and extreme weather events threaten lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems.
“As the UN Secretary-General has so aptly stated, ‘We are in the final countdown to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and time is not on our side,’” said the Prime Minister. He referenced Pacific SIDS’ ongoing initiatives, including the 2023 Declaration on the Continuity of Statehood and Protection of Persons amidst sea-level rise and the 2021 Pacific Regional Framework on Preserving Maritime Zones, which emphasize resilience and state sovereignty in the face of climate impacts. The Chair recognized the work that have been to put forth into the developed and endorsed of the Pacific Regional Framework on Climate Mobility and introduced Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific which address both climate change resilience and disaster risk.
Representing 18 member countries, the Pacific Islands Forum Chair called for unity among SIDS and reiterated the Forum’s commitment to ambitious climate goals. He urged COP29 delegates to ensure that the New Collective Goal for climate finance priorities and Nationally Determined Contributions focus on limiting global temperature rise to within 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The Chair also recognized the contributions of key SIDS leadership from nations such as Antigua and Barbuda for their leadership in the 10 year programme of Action for SIDS, the ABAS, Samoa as Chair of AOSIS, Vanuatu as Chair of Pacific SIDS, and Grenada as Chair of Caricom Community, who continue to advocate for SIDS’ climate agendas through regional and global platforms.
The Pacific Islands Forum stands ready to support COP29 in achieving outcomes that address the unique climate challenges faced by SIDS. This high-level event; Leader’s summit of the Small Island Developing States on Climate Change convened as part of COP29 in Baku, is a pivotal opportunity to align global action with the urgent needs of small island nations.