Eight Pacific political climate champions heading into COP30 are providing a high-level regional line-up blending change and continuity on key priorities including Loss and Damage, Climate Finance, Gender and Social Inclusion, the Ocean-Climate nexus, Adaptation, Mitigation and a Just Transition.
Featuring politicians from FSM, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, RMI, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, the Pacific high-level champions on climate include two deputy leaders, and two women ministerial leaders.
Fiji Deputy PM Professor Biman Prasad will champion Climate Finance and Tonga Deputy PM Dr Taniela Fusimalohi will champion the Just Transition theme.
Niue’s Mona Ainu’u takes up the Climate-Ocean nexus, handing the Gender and Social Inclusion baton to Minister Ruth Cross Kwansing of Kiribati.
Bremity Lakjohn, Assistant Minister to the RMI President, is the COP30 Pacific champion on Adaptation.
The blend of new names and ongoing faces helps ensure handover and legacy for the Pacific political champions, who are a key part of the overall voice and visibility strategy for the region in the global climate conference.
The COP champions initiative was launched at COP26 in Glasgow and is managed by PIF as part of its contribution to the unified Pacific grouping known as OneCROP.
It’s been just over six months since the COP29 champions met to look at lessons learnt and the journey ahead. With COP30 less than a month away, Ainu’u and Prasad feature alongside veteran champion, Ralph Regenvanu, as the high-level champion for Loss and Damage.
There are two champions on climate Mitigation and Just Transition – Tuvalu’s Minister Dr Maina Talia will lead, with FSM Minister Andrew Yatilman as alternate.
In his remarks to the COP29 Champions in March, Forum SG Baron Waqa had noted the role of the Pacific political champions in bringing collective priorities to the global climate stage:
“We all can agree that 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,” Waqa had stated.
“The Pacific Political Climate Champions is one initiative that can continue to be the bridge between the political advocacy and technical negotiations where required.
