By Sanjeshni Kumar in Apia
“You today are exactly where you are meant to be.”
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Climate Change Resilience Director, Tagaloa Cooper shared these words of encouragement with participants at the first Pacific Youth Dialogue on Loss and Damage in Apia, Samoa today.
Cooper urged the Pacific young people to take ownership of their stories and lead the way in defining what loss and damage means for their communities.
“The most important people here today are the representatives, the youth from the Pacific Island countries. I acknowledge you,” she said.
“I promise you; your voice will be heard. We will provide support for your work.”
The dialogue, supported by the Government of New Zealand, brings together young leaders from across the Pacific region to discuss how climate-induced loss and damage has affected their lives, their cultures, and their futures.
“Loss and damage is not new to us,” Cooper said.
“It has a name. But believe it or not, it has no definition. It is defined by what you feel and how you are guided.”
She shared her personal story as a Niuean, in Alofi during the devastation of Cyclone Heta in 2004. The category 5 cyclone wiped out most of Niue’s forests, including kamilo trees, a plant central to her community’s traditional medicine.
“When you lose biodiversity that you use for cultural practices, you lose the practice. And when you lose the practice, it starts to erode who you are,” she said.
Her message to the youth was clear: climate change is already part of their lives, but so is their power to shape the future.
“The harms caused by climate change will inevitably be part of your story,” she said.
“But the beauty of being young people is your story is still in progress. And that is yours to define.”
Reflecting on her own experiences as a former young delegate at international climate negotiations, Cooper said the dialogue was designed to create a safe space where youth could speak freely.
“This meeting is unique so that you don’t feel overwhelmed,” she said.
“Hopefully, you will have the conviction to forge ahead and tell your stories on loss and damage and know that we will be with you.”
She assured participants that SPREP would make sure their voices are heard at the global level.
“We want to make sure that you have a voice in the next COP… no matter where it is,” she said.
Tagaloa told the youth: “Walk boldly, trusting that God is walking with you. We love you, and we value your stories.”
The two-day Youth dialogue will generate outcomes for consideration by an upcoming Ministerial on Loss and Damage, in the coming week.
This report has been generated as part of a Pacific media news partnership with the SPREP Pacific Youth Dialogue on Loss and Damage, on 7-8 August, at Taumeasina, Samoa.
