Pre-COP meetings continue in the Pacific island countries Fiji and Tuvalu before the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to be held in Antalya, hosted by Türkiye. COP31 President and Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Kurum visited Tuvalu, which is at risk of being submerged as a result of the effects of the climate crisis, with his accompanying leaders. The institution attended the Leaders' General Session in Fiji as part of the Pre-COP events and made a speech there.
EMPHASIS OF TAKU PAKASOA DECLARATION
COP31 President Kurum, who greeted the leaders by saying 'Talofa' in Tuvaluan and 'Bula Vinaka' in Fijian, started his speech by emphasizing the Taku Pakasoa Declaration, which means 'unity and power of joint action' in Tuvaluan:
"The world that came together in Tuvalu and Fiji today actually saw the serious threat to the Blue Pacific, as expressed by the valuable speakers here. We all know that the Taku Pakasoa Declaration means unity and the power to take joint action in the Tuvaluan language. This declaration is a call to unite behind the Pacific peoples at the forefront of the climate crisis. This call is a complete regional reflection of our calls for dialogue, consensus and action that we have expressed throughout the entire process. I see that at the point reached today, everywhere in the world "We are now giving the message in unison that 'negotiating and talking is enough; it is time to take action together.'"
'THE 1.5 DEGREE TARGET IS A MATTER OF THE EXISTENCE OR DESTRUCTION OF COUNTRIES LIKE TUVALU'
COP31 President Kurum pointed out that the Paris Climate Agreement's goal of limiting the global average temperature increase to 1.5 degrees is a matter of existence for countries like Tuvalu:
“In the Pacific, people lived in harmony with the ocean. Their culture and identity were intertwined with the tides. Today, the same ocean threatens this way of life. Tuvalu, just a few meters above sea level, faces the reality of climate every day. The situation that threatens Tuvalu and Fiji is a harbinger of the future that awaits us all if we do not act together. As the temperature increase approaches 1.5 degrees Celsius, the 1.5 degree Celsius target has become a matter of the existence or extinction of countries like Tuvalu. The effects of each advance "We see that this is accelerating, and we emphasize that small island developing states and least developed countries are increasing the risk of irreversible losses in this process. Science tells us that deep, rapid and sustainable emissions reductions are now essential. We appreciate the active climate-led actions of Pacific island countries. We confirm our determination to protect statehood, sovereignty and marine areas in the context of sea level rise."
'ELECTRIFICATION WILL REDUCE FOSSIL DEPENDENCE'
Reiterating his call for countries to submit National Contribution Declarations (NDC) in the second decade of the Paris Agreement, COP31 President Kurum continued as follows:
"We call on all parties to accelerate joint action in this critical 10 years to make the 1.5 degree target achievable. We invite you to implement the decisions and commitments made in all COP meetings we have held to date. We invite countries that have not yet submitted their NDCs for 2035 to take action as soon as possible. It is vital that science guides decision-making processes, and in this context, we reiterate our commitment to a clean energy transition; to triple renewable energy capacity, double energy efficiency and switch from fossil fuels by 2030." "We see fair, orderly and equitable transition and the 35 percent electrification target by 2035, which we also attach great importance to, as the success of this COP31. We will also act in line with the national road maps for the 2050 Net Zero Emission Target. Electrification, storage and grid transformation will strengthen energy supply security, reduce costs and reduce fossil dependence."
'OCEAN, THE CLIMATE REGULATOR OF THE PLANET'
Stating that they will highlight the topics of Electrification, Zero Waste and Green Industrialization, and also Seas and Oceans in the COP31 Antalya Action Agenda, COP31 President Kurum touched upon the importance of fair distribution of climate finance at this point. The institution stated that the international financial architecture should provide grant-based and concessional financing for 'Small Island Developing States' and 'Least Developed Countries'.
Inviting developed countries to contribute to the Pacific Resilience Fund, COP31 President Kurum said, "The ocean is the planet's climate regulator, the largest carbon sink and the basis of food security. Collective action is required against warming, acidification, sea level rise and biodiversity loss. We must strengthen ocean science and support these studies together. We celebrate the resounding pioneering attitudes of the youth and indigenous peoples."
'WE UNITED OUR VOICES'
Reiterating his call for unity and joint action against the climate crisis, COP31 President Kurum said, "Here at the Pre-COP, we unite our voices in unity, endurance and strength in the spirit of Taku Pakasoa in the Pacific. As we prepare for COP31 in Antalya in November, I invite all parties, the whole world, to take action for our common future."
COP31 President Kurum completed his speech with the word 'Fakafetai', which means thank you in Tuvaluan language.
The meeting was attended by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Australian Minister of Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, Fijian Minister of Information, Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya, United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, Australian First Nations Representative Justin Mohamed, Pacific First Nations Representative Lavenia Naivalu, Pacific Representative Miliana Iga and COP31 Youth Climate Ambassador Sally Higgins.
