Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has called for climate finance to be treated as climate justice, not charity.
Opening the Fifth Pacific Ocean Pacific Climate Change Conference in Honiara, Prime Minister Wale said vulnerable countries cannot continue borrowing indefinitely to respond to a climate crisis they did not create.
“Climate finance must not be treated as charity. It is part of climate justice and international cooperation,” he said.
The Prime Minister called for climate finance to be adequate, predictable, accessible and, wherever possible, grant-based, stressing that international commitments must translate into resources reaching communities on the ground.
“A fund that exists internationally but cannot be reached by a Pacific community is not delivering justice,” he said.
Prime Minister Wale said Solomon Islands will also strengthen its domestic systems to access and manage climate finance.
This includes developing a coherent climate-finance architecture, a credible pipeline of investable projects and stronger national capacity to access international funds directly.
He said climate investments must reach beyond Honiara and benefit provinces and communities, including women, young people, persons with disabilities, farmers, fishers and people living furthest from the capital.
The Prime Minister linked climate finance to the wider Pacific struggle to keep the 1.5°C target within reach, noting that Pacific Leaders have reaffirmed climate change as the single greatest threat to the security, livelihoods and wellbeing of Pacific peoples.
“Through the B.E.L.A.U. Declaration, Pacific Leaders have reaffirmed commitments to stronger climate plans, a just energy transition, greater access to climate finance, and stronger focus on oceans, youth, gender equality and intergenerational justice,” he said.
For the Pacific, the Prime Minister said climate finance is not simply about funding projects.
Prime Minister Wale said it is about ensuring communities facing the greatest risks have the resources to protect their homes, livelihoods, infrastructure and future.
