News & Announcements

  Here you will find links to a selection of the latest stories coming out of COP29, mostly those that relate to the Pacific region. These stories can be found in full by following the links to The Conversation, RNZ International/Pacific and ABC. The most recent stories are listed at the top. Australia commits $50 million towards climate recovery Australia's government has committed an extra fifty million dollars towards a global fund to deal with the loss and damage caused by the climate crisis Pacific Island nations need ‘substantial finance’ to combat climate change - Baron Waqa Speaking at the United Nations climate summit COP29 in Azerbaijan on Thursday, PIF secretary-general Baron Waqa said climate change poses the single greatest existential threat to the survival of Pacific Islands. The Moana effect: how small island developing states are bringing their struggle against climate change to the world The animated movie Moana parallels the fight happening in the real world as small island developing states and youth activists push for climate action COP29: ‘climate finance’ for the Pacific is mostly loans, saddling small island nations with more debt Pacific scholars are calling on world leaders to improve the dispersal system of climate finance to support people living in small island nations Climate discussions near conclusion at COP29 As the UN climate conference enters its final three days, there's uncertainty as to whether developed nations will agree to a proposed trillion dollar climate financing agreement demanded by many developing states. COP29: Pacific negotiators frustrated by 'slow process' of climate talks The big goal of this COP is to increase annual climate financing target from 100 billion US dollars originally set in 2009 for developed nations to help developing countries reduce emissions and adapt to climate impacts but progress is slow. COP29: Nauru unveils ‘groundbreaking’ citizenship by investment scheme for climate action Nauru has launched a "groundbreaking" citizenship by investment scheme at the United Nations climate change summit COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. 'Fossil fuels are a curse': Greenpeace Pacific head responds Azerbaijan's COP29 remarks The Pacific head of the environmental campaign organisation Greenpeace has described the comments by Azerbaijan's president that oil and gas are a "gift of God" as "disappointing". Pacific Islands Forum chair urges SIDS leaders to remain hopeful at COP29 Pacific Islands Forum chair and Tonga's Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni has urged leaders' from small island nations at the United Nations climate change meeting to "not be disheartened," despite the "disappointing outcomes of UNFCCC Conferences in the past". COP29: who pays for climate action in developing nations – and how much – becomes more urgent  The key focus of COP29 is on establishing a new collective goal for climate finance to help developing countries to reduce emissions and adapt to climate impacts. COP29: UN chief warns world is in 'final countdown' to limit global warming to 1.5C  UN Secretary-General António Guterres told world leaders at COP29 that 2024 has been a "masterclass in climate destruction", recording the hottest day and month, and is tracking to also include the hottest year. COP29: Tuvalu calls for fairer climate finance system for small island states  Tuvalu's Prime Minister Feleti Teo has added his voice to the calls for a more just climate finance system for small island states and the least developed countries. Authoritarian fossil fuel states keep hosting climate conferences – how do these regimes operate and what do they want?  It’s concerning that a succession of authoritarian and fossil fuel-rich states have been selected to host international climate negotiations. It means we must pay extra attention to political influences on the talks and beware of greenwashing by the hosts. Trump win, 1.5 C warming breach weigh on UN COP climate finance talks Pacific delegates fear the implications of a Trump presidency and breach of the 1.5 degree Celsius warming target will overshadow negotiations on climate finance Climate Financing expected to be main agenda of Pacific Islands at COP29  Discussions are set to centre heavily on climate financing, something Pacific countries will be looking to see concrete commitments to. COP29 as a ‘finance COP’ must deliver if we are to heal ‘sick earth’ - Tonga PM  Pacific communities are the least responsible for climate change. The countries responsible for this crisis must front up and take responsibility. COP29: A life of living in fear Vanuatu’s ‘new normal’  As the world gears up for COP29 in Azerbaijan, the government and the people of Vanuatu continue to amplify the call for "1.5 to stay alive", to ensure our efforts for survival are not in vain.  COP29: Pacific countries cannot be conveniently pigeon-holed  Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) are the uncomfortable reminder for those who want smooth sailing of their agenda at COP29, that while we are able to hold the tension of our vulnerability and resilience in the Pacific, this may make for choppy seas. Image: urbanbuzz/shutterstock.com    

      In a boost for Pacific Islands such as Tuvalu under threat from rising seas, Commonwealth nations agreed on Saturday that a nation's maritime boundaries should remain fixed even if climate change causes small island states to be submerged. In a new Ocean Declaration, Commonwealth leaders "affirm that members can maintain their maritime zones" under the law of the sea and that the rights that flow from them continue to apply, regardless of physical changes connected to climate change related sea level rise. Read more at RNZ International/Pacific news In another RNZ report, Tuvalu's Transport, Energy, and Communications Minister Simon Kofe has expressed doubt about Australia's reliability in addressing the climate crisis. He said that there is a sense of responsibility on Tuvalu, being at the forefront of the impacts of climate change, to continue to advocate for stronger climate action and to talk to its partners. Read more at RNZ International/Pacific news   Image: Ridha Arianta/shutterstock.com    

  Several Pacific island nations are ramping up pressure on Australia over climate change during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, declaring that Canberra must phase out fossil fuel exports to help ensure their survival. Among the leaders at CHOGM, the Tuvaluan prime minister, Feleti Teo, told a press conference in Samoa's capital Apia that the current policies of major polluters represented a "death sentence" for his country. Read more at RNZ International/Pacific news. Photo credit: Michael Coghlan/wikicommons          

  A UN General Assembly First Committee resolution tabled last week seeks to mandate an international independent scientific expert study of the effects of nuclear war. The last such UN study was in 1988, more than 30 years ago. The UN resolution “Nuclear War Effects and Scientific Research” is sponsored by Ireland and New Zealand, and has a significant number of cosponsors. The resolution seeks specifically to establish a panel of 21 scientific experts, to be appointed by the UN Secretary-General following nominations from Member States and a public call for candidates, to conduct a new UN General Assembly mandated study on the potential effects of nuclear war. The panel would be charged with “examining the physical effects and societal consequences of a nuclear war on a local, regional and planetary scale, including inter alia the climatic, environmental and radiological effects, and their impacts on public health, global socio-economic systems, agriculture and ecosystems, in the days-weeks-decades following nuclear war, and that it reviews and commissions relevant studies, including modelling where appropriate, and publishes a comprehensive report, makes key conclusions, and identifies areas requiring future research.” Some of the background and key points for the UN resolution are in this article: Zia Mian, “Nuclear War Effects and Scientific Research: Time for a 21st Century UN Study”. The Princeton Program on Science and Global Security (SGS) did a special event in support of the resolution at the United Nations First Committee on Disarmament and International Security on 9 October -- “Expert panel on nuclear war impacts and the role of the scientific community”. The event was organized together with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, and the UN missions of Ireland and NZ. Izumi Nakamitsu (UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs) delivered the opening remarks at this panel. In the 2020/2021 fiscal year, the US Congress asked the National Academy of Sciences to do a study on nuclear winter (the first such study since the 1980s). It has not yet been published. Photo credit: shutterstock.com        

  Hearings are set to begin at the International Court of Justice on 12 December 2024 on Vanuatu's push for states to clarify their legal obligations to combat climate change and protect vulnerable communities. A record-breaking 100 oral statements are scheduled to be presented, with Vanuatu's arguments scheduled for 12 December. Read more from RNZ international/Pacific News. Photo credit: shutterstock.com