Dear Editor,

Last month in Azerbaijan, countries around the world – including Samoa – renewed their calls for bolder action at the global climate conference (COP29).

Here in Samoa, as well as Australia and across the Pacific, lives and livelihoods are threatened by more frequent and extreme heat waves, more intense rainfall, ocean acidification and sea level rise. 

Urgency for Australia

For Australia the need for action is clear. 

We recognise our responsibility in addressing the climate crisis through our own clean energy transition.

We have set targets of 43 per cent reduction in our domestic emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050 – both legislated. 

We are embracing Australia’s abundant natural resources to provide clean, cheap and reliable energy. Renewables are expected to account for 40 per cent of our electricity generation in 2024, up from 32 per cent in 2022. And within this decade, 82 per cent of our electricity generation will be renewable.

Australia has been a significant exporter of fossil fuels and has long been a reliable energy supplier. But as the world decarbonises, what we trade will change. 

Much like a large ship, Australia’s economy takes time to change course. But we are turning the tiller, moving from an emissions-intensive economy to a renewable energy superpower.  

We are expanding our capacity to provide high quality clean energy, green metals and critical minerals, including through the recently announced WST$39.9 billion Future Made in Australia plan. 

This plan will support Australia to decarbonise and transition away from being a fossil fuel exporter, while also delivering cheaper, cleaner, more reliable energy for the region. 

Urgency for the Pacific

We know climate change is the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of our Pacific region. 

With Pacific nations experiencing the effects of climate change despite having contributed the least to it, Pacific voices must be heard.  

Australia is responding to the Pacific’s calls for urgent climate action, with tangible commitments.

Through SPREP, and in partnership with New Zealand, Australia supported 14 Pacific delegates to attend COP29. 

At COP29, Australia’s negotiators worked alongside Samoa, including the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources the Hon Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, to progress meaningful climate finance commitments. 

We made a WST$87.6 million commitment to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, to assist countries address both the economic and non-economic impacts of climate change.

Australia has pledged WST$175.3 million to the Pacific Resilience Facility, the first ever Pacific-led, Pacific-owned community resilience finance facility. And we have re-joined the Green Climate Fund with a contribution of WST$87.6 million. 

We are delivering WST$615.1 million in climate infrastructure to help the Pacific mitigate, adapt, and build resilience in the face of a changing climate. Last month, a team visited Apolima to explore Australian support for solar energy system refurbishment in partnership with Samoa’s Electric Power Corporation. 

This year, the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty entered into force. It supports Tuvaluans to live and prosper at home while providing a pathway for mobility with dignity as climate impacts worsen. 

It is the first treaty anywhere in the world which provides legal protection for continued statehood and sovereignty in the face of sea level rise.

Urgency for the world

It is our responsibility to reduce our emissions and advocate that others, particularly the world’s largest emitters, do the same.

If we are to meet the Paris Agreement goals, we need the largest economies to peak and quickly decline their emissions.

Australia’s emissions peaked in 2006 and have reduced by around 33 per cent since then.

Every country must play its part. The need for united global action is why the annual COP is important. 

It is also why Australia is bidding to co-host COP31 in 2026 in partnership with the Pacific.

Together we seek to deliver a COP that brings profile to the region’s unique challenges, elevates Pacific voices and accelerates global climate action.

Ia manuia le Kerisimasi ma le tausaga fou.

William Robinson 

Australia’s High Commissioner to Samoa