Funafuti: Pacific island leaders called on countries to uphold their commitment to transition away from fossil fuels during climate talks in Tuvalu on Tuesday, ahead of next month’s COP31 summit in Türkiye.
Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the commitment agreed at the 2023 UN climate summit in Dubai should not be reopened for negotiation, the Guardian reported.
He urged governments to accelerate emissions reductions as the world risks exceeding the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
About 50 dignitaries, including 14 national leaders and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, visited Tuvalu as part of preparatory talks co hosted by Australia. COP31 will take place in Antalya, while most of the preparatory meeting is being held in Fiji.
Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Feleti Teo called for faster access to climate finance, saying vulnerable countries should not have to borrow to protect themselves from a crisis they had done little to cause.
Tuvalu comprises three reef islands and six atolls, with most of its land less than two metres above sea level. Around half its population of 10600 lives in part of the capital, Funafuti.
During the visit, 13 year old student Melelusi Sokotia told leaders that children wanted to grow up safely in their country. She urged them to work together to protect small island states.
Delegates also visited a land reclamation project intended to add around 20 hectares for homes and infrastructure. The project is overseen by the UN Development Programme and partly funded by Australia.
Tuvalu’s climate change director Jamie Ovia said projected sea level rise could push annual flood and storm surge damage to USD 34 million by 2050 and USD 63 million by 2100.
Albanese said the visit demonstrated that climate change concerned people, identity and culture as well as scientific targets.
