The death toll from floods and landslides across Nepal, which has claimed more than 150 lives and counting, is a reminder of the devastation extreme climate events can have on communities.

The devastation was felt at the Baravi Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Fiji, where Pacific Climate Change Ministers and officials gathered to discuss the Pacific’s priorities as the clock ticks towards the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

To be held from 11-22 November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan, COP29 is a critical step in global efforts to find solutions to climate change, which continues to wreak havoc on the planet, with Pacific communities placed at the forefront of its devastating impacts.

Rev. James Shri Bhagwan, General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, reminded Ministers and Officials that the impacts of climate change respect no sovereignty, and the loss of lives in Nepal is a reminder of the struggles our Pacific communities have had to deal with as climate change impacts worsen.

“I am sure you are all aware of the current situation in Nepal. Even those of the land with the highest mountains are not spared as the cryosphere of the Himalayas melt,” he said. “Yet we are called and challenged to act in hope – to hope is an act of faith, of vision, of determination and trust that our current situation will not remain the status quo.”

John Salong, Vanuatu's Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology & Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management, as PSIDS Chair agrees, adding that such hope to act must result in advance global climate ambition and in particular for Pacific countries, lead to the necessary finance to meet those ambitions.

“We come here at a crucial time in our region’s ongoing battle with climate change,” said Hon. Salong. “It is critical that we continue to pressure larger emitters and those historically responsible for causing this crisis we find ourselves in, to increase their ambition to keep the 1.5-degree target alive.”

COP28 held last year in Dubai was the largest global climate change conference with over 90,000 registered participants. The Pacific presence at COP28 was significantly higher than previous COPs with all 14 Pacific delegations – including over 350 PSIDS delegates - attending.

The most positive outcome of COP28 for PSIDS came early in the process with a decision on operationalising the Loss and Damage Fund, with over USD 700 million in pledged financing. This was followed by a decision in the first Global Stock Take that broke new ground with the call for parties to triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency by 2030. The decision also called for parties to “transition away from fossil fuels”.

In the build up to COP29, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) as Chair of the OneCROP, has the mandate as coordinator of Pacific climate change action to lead work on enhancing Pacific engagement in international climate change negotiations, under the UNFCCC. The OneCROP continues to work collaboratively with Vanuatu, as Chair of PSIDS, to support and advance their collective aims and to continue to play a key role in global climate discussions.

“The PSIDS-OneCROP process has served the region well over the years and has allowed for the advancement of outcomes at international climate change discussions that benefit our region,” said Hon. Salong. “This discussion will give us a chance to consider our views as a region and provide guidance to our negotiators as they look to advance global climate ambition and in particular at this COP, seek to secure the necessary finance to meet those ambitions.

“I also look forward to our CROP co-facilitators explaining the details of Australia’s proposed approach to co-hosting COP31, so that we may have a robust discussion amongst ourselves as to how we would like to approach this significant opportunity through the ongoing utilisation of the PSIDS-OneCROP process.”

The PSIDS COP29 Preparatory Meeting was preceded by a PSIDS Ministerial lunch where SPREP’s Director General, Sefanaia Nawadra, welcomed the Ministers and the officials.

“I want to thank the Government of Fiji for receiving us and sharing their beautiful country with us,” he said. “Our agenda today is designed to be concise and focused, ensuring you receive all the necessary information enabling you to share your thoughts on both COP29 priorities for PSIDS and on possible arrangements for working together with Australia on the co-hosting of COP31.”

The 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will take place from 11-22 November 2024 in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan.

The Pacific Small Islands Developing States (PSIDS) COP29 Preparatory Meetings for Climate Change Ministers and Officials and the Pacific Island Countries Climate Change Ministerial Talanoa with Australia and New Zealand, from 30 September – 3 October 2024 at Crowne Plaza Fiji, is funded by the Government of Australia and facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment (SPREP).