Pacific island nations are facing immediate threats from climate change, as rising sea levels bring significant consequences to their communities. Leaders from these nations are gathering in Fiji with ministers and climate negotiators from around 60 countries to address issues ahead of the UN-led international climate conference set to begin in Turkey next month.
Anne Rasmussen, lead climate negotiator for the Association of Small Island States (AOSIS), highlighted the dire situation, stating, "When there's a low tide, you'll actually see foundations of homes, you see burial grounds of your ancestors..." She noted that rising sea levels are rendering some land uninhabitable.
The discussions aim to emphasize the urgency of the situation for low-lying islands. Rasmussen remarked, "It's actually to bring the people who are continuing to turn a blind eye and deaf ears to the communities of the vulnerable islands to these effects."
The leaders will first visit Tuvalu, which is predicted to be one of the first countries to become uninhabitable due to climate change. Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo stated at the UN General Assembly last month that sea level rise is a "present reality" and called for immediate global action to protect future generations.
Tuvalu, averaging just two meters above sea level, has experienced more frequent flooding. Rasmussen, from Samoa, noted, "Having back-to-back hurricanes and storms, having back-to-back significant floods...it really sets back countries and affects communities. People are losing their homes."
She also mentioned that rising sea levels are contaminating freshwater sources and threatening crops, while warmer oceans lead to coral bleaching, impacting marine life vital for local economies.
While few leaders from outside the region are expected to attend the conference, negotiators from countries such as Germany, Mexico, and South Korea will participate. The agenda will focus on limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a target established during the 2015 Paris climate conference.
A UN report released in September indicated that under a best-case scenario, temperatures could rise by at least 1.8 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, but it remains possible to reduce temperatures. Natasha Green, Australia country lead for climate think-tank E3G, stated that small island and least developed states are urging global cooperation to help vulnerable nations adapt to worsening climate impacts.
Climate finance is a key topic at the talks, as poorer nations, which contribute little to climate change, are experiencing severe impacts and are calling on wealthier nations to provide financial support for adaptation. Laura Schäfer from Germanwatch expressed the need for Australia, as COP president, to address complex issues, including the role of major fossil fuel companies in funding climate damages.
The agenda will also include discussions on phasing out fossil fuels for energy production. At the 2023 climate conference, countries agreed to move towards a future that does not rely on fossil fuels, but progress has been limited since then. Scientists assert that ending fossil fuel use is essential to keep global temperatures within agreed limits and mitigate the severe impacts of climate change affecting island states and coastal communities.
Green emphasized the importance of ongoing COP discussions to enhance commitments to transition away from fossil fuels.