European Union Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra has warned that the loss of land in Tuvalu is a sign of what climate change could bring to other countries, as he pledged continued EU support for Pacific climate action and resilience.
Hoekstra made the remarks at the Pacific Pre-COP31 plenary in Denarau after visiting Tuvalu during the leaders’ meeting, where Pacific leaders are expected to sign the Taku Pakasoa Declaration ahead of COP31 in Türkiye.
“It also showed us the intimidating reality of literally losing your land.
“This is not an incident, an anomaly or a one-off. As the Prime Minister said, it is a bellwether, a proxy for what awaits,” Hoekstra said.
Hoekstra said the EU would continue supporting Pacific island countries and recognised the region’s leadership in pushing for stronger global climate action.
“The European Union will continue its unwavering support for the islands in the Pacific, the Caribbean and beyond.
“We commend the strength, the courage and the leadership of the islands in advocacy for climate action,” Hoekstra said.
He said Europe would work with Pacific countries to advance climate action despite growing divisions and resistance to stronger climate policies.
“Europe will stand shoulder to shoulder in jointly advancing climate action, no matter how difficult that may be in today’s fractured world full of hesitation and outright denialism,” he said.
Hoekstra said the EU also had a responsibility to accelerate cuts to its own emissions, warning that every fraction of additional warming would increase risks to health, economies and security.
“Our responsibility is to continue to cut our emissions rapidly and deeply.
“It is important to recall that every fraction of a degree has increasing negative impacts on our health, our economy, our security and our prosperity,” Hoekstra said.
Hoekstra said the EU would continue pushing for the world to stay as close as possible to the 1.5C temperature goal and ultimately return below it.
“In the European Union, staying as close as possible to 1.5 degrees and getting back below 1.5 remains the non-negotiable goal,” he said.
Hoekstra called for stronger Nationally Determined Contributions and greater use of science in climate policy, while urging countries to accelerate clean electrification at COP31.
“That means pushing ambitious NDCs. That means embracing everything science tells us.
“And that means we need to do whatever we can on clean electrification in Antalya,” Hoekstra said.
Hoekstra also identified climate resilience as a priority for the Pacific, saying the EU would continue supporting countries to prepare for worsening climate impacts.
“Resilience is a must-have,” he said.
Hoekstra said support would include early warning systems and investment in infrastructure capable of withstanding increasingly severe climate impacts.
“We will further push to achieve the great finance goals and ensure better access on the ground, because that is clearly needed,” he said.
The Pacific Pre-COP31 meeting concludes in Denarau today with leaders expected to endorse the Taku Pakasoa Declaration, which will set out regional priorities ahead of COP31 in Türkiye.
