As the countdown continues, the Pacific voice will be amplified on the global stage at COP26 in Glasgow with the announcement of five High-Level Climate Change Champions Tuesday.
The High-Level Champions are Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown – Fiji’s Minister of Economy and Climate Change, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum – Palau’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment , Steven Victor – Tuvalu’s Minister of Finance and Climate Change, Seve Paeniu – and the Republic of the Marshall Islands Minister of Finance – Alfred Alfred Jr.
What will their message be?
The impacts of climate change will worsen drastically unless global warming is limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The Champions will push for five Pacific priorities, which include Climate Finance, Climate Ambition, Environmental Integrity, Loss and Damage, and Oceans.
Meanwhile, Fiji’s Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has been nominated to serve as the Pacific’s High-Level Champion for Oceans at COP26.
This responsibility reflects the faith of Pacific Forum leaders for Fiji to amplify regional climate priorities in the global arena.
Sayed-Khaiyum virtually participated at the Amplifying Pacific Voices at COP26 through the Political Climate Champions High-Level Launch Event.
The event officially marks the beginning of a major regional campaign on amplifying Pacific voices in the lead up to, during and after COP26.
The AG highlighted the need to mainstream the Oceans-Climate nexus into global climate discussions during the launch event.
Sayed-Khaiyum said that grant and concessional finance for climate action and creating the right balance between adaptation and mitigation finance are crucial priorities for the Pacific going into COP26.
The upcoming COP26 will be held in Glasgow, Scotland from 01 – 12 November.
The High-Level Launch Event: Magnifying our Pacific Voice at COP26 through Political Climate Champions was held Tuesday 5 October 2021.
SOURCE: SPREP/FBC NEWS/PACNEWS
