Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa inspired Pacific leaders during the debrief of Political Climate Champions in Nadi Tuesday, stressing the critical need for strong political leadership in the fight against climate change.
Waqa’s address highlighted the crucial role Pacific leaders play in shaping global climate action and called for continued dedication to the cause.
“I want to express my appreciation and that of my One CROP colleagues for the dedication and commitment to this initiative. As a Political Climate Champion, it is in addition to your own national responsibilities, not an easy feat and one that we do not discount lightly and for this we are truly appreciative,” said Waqa, acknowledging the hard work of the Pacific’s climate advocates.
Reflecting on his first COP, Waqa shared his motivation after seeing global leaders work tirelessly during the two weeks of COP 29.
He extended gratitude to the technical negotiators whose support was vital in advancing Pacific priorities.
“COP 29 was my first COP since taking on my current position, and seeing everyone in action, working more than 12 hours every day during those two weeks of COP, was very motivating. I take this opportunity to echo the sentiments of our Deputy Secretary General Desna Solofa and extend our appreciation to our technical negotiators whose support to our Champions was critical to their effective engagement,” Waqa noted.
Waqa emphasised the growing challenge of global leadership on climate change, a gap where Pacific Leaders continue to lead morally.
“Climate Change has always lacked consistent and strong global political leadership. Within this gap, our Pacific Leaders have been and continue to be recognised and acknowledged for their moral leadership. This is more critical now, more than ever, given the current global political dynamics we are in today, with a deviation away from the focus on climate change,” he added.
The Political Climate Champions initiative, according to Waqa, is an essential bridge between political advocacy and technical negotiations.
He stressed the importance of maintaining focus on the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
“We need to continue to rally the world towards a 1.5-degree Celsius world. Nothing else should matter and nothing should undermine the progress that we have all been working hard to achieve,” he declared.
Looking ahead, Waqa outlined the goals of the debrief: strengthening the initiative to amplify Pacific priorities at both the political and technical levels in global forums such as UNFCCC COPs.
“We are strong as a collective and our voices become even more elevated as one region,” he said.
Waqa also acknowledged the financial support for the initiative from Australia and New Zealand, despite their differing views on climate change.
“We may not always see eye to eye, we may sit at opposite sides of the table particularly on the issue of climate change, but as I highlighted earlier, during these times of uncertainties, it is best we continue to work to bring everyone to our side,” he stated.
Waqa also thanked the Political Climate Champions and all partners for their continued work and commitment.
“My sincere appreciation again to you, our Political Climate Champions, our national advisors, and our One CROP colleagues. Let us use this opportunity to put our critical thinking together for the objective of strengthening this initiative for the benefit of our region and our future,” he said.
The debrief provides an opportunity to express appreciation to the champions as well as the national and PSIDS advisors, for the hard-work and effort they’ve put in to make the Political Climate Champions initiative work.
Its also an opportunity to learn from the experiences of the champions and the national and PSIDS advisors and identify opportunities going forward.
The high level Pacific champions who were present at the debrief were Biman Prasad – Fiji Deputy Prime Minister, (Oceans- Climate Nexus), Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu Minister for Climate Change (Loss & Damage); Maina Talia – Tuvalu Minister for Climate Change and Environment (Just Transition), Bremity Lakjohn – Republic of the Marshall Islands Minister in Assistance to the President/Environment (Adaptation), Mona Ainuu – Niue Minister of Natural Resources (Gender and Social Inclusion) and Cedric Schuster – Samoa Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (Mitigation)who joined online.
The Political Climate Champions was initiated in 2021 as a means to help elevate Pacific priorities at the political level during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties.
It was an effort to ensure that the Pacific as a whole could strategically engage and influence strong outcomes on Pacific priorities through the UNFCCC COP and where relevant through other global platforms.
The Political Climate Champions is a One CROP supported mechanism with PIFS as lead coordinator, and supported by the governments of Australia and New Zealand.
