16 November 2022, Sharm El-Sheikh, COP27 - Solomon Islands, a country with the second highest exposure to disaster risk globally according to the 2021 World Risk Report, has added their voice to calls to establish a Loss and Damage Fund, and for world leaders to commit to the operation of such a fund by the time they leave the sunny shores of the red sea at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
With Pacific countries constantly affected and recovering from weather extremes driven by climate change, Solomon Islands asserts that dealing with this burden requires the global community to step up and shift the mode of work to action and implementation.
Speaking during the resumed high-level segment of COP27 on Tuesday, Solomon Islands Minister of Forestry and Research, Hon. Dickson Panakitasi Mua, said climate extremes are a daily reality for his country. Just this week, he said a trough caused significant flooding that destroyed homes, food gardens and transport infrastructure.
“This is the burden we are already struggling with and we cannot afford nor wish to pass on to the next generations. These realities confront us now and will intensify in scale and frequency if inaction and ambitions remain off target from the 1.5 degrees limit,” he said.
The Solomon Islands Minister pointed out that the science is unequivocal, and the unprecedented impacts of climate change are clear across the globe. So how does the Solomon Islands propose to solve the problem?
“Our goal to remain within 1.5 degrees is reachable if global coal use must fall between 67% and 82% by 2030, and effectively stop by 2050 across all sectors. We call for the phasing out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies and more investment to accelerate low carbon development pathways and building climate resilience,” he said.
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A work programme to urgently scale up mitigation ambition and implementation is another critical part of the parcel.
“Solomon Islands would want to see the Mitigation Work Programme operational as soon as possible and remind Parties of the urgency to enhance ambition and action if we are serious about closing the emission gap. Major emitters must take the lead in drastically reducing their emissions.
On the 100-billion-dollar goal, Hon. Dickson Panakitasi Mua, said developed country must fulfill their promise and deliver without any further delay.
“We need clarity on how and when the doubling of adaptation finance by 2025 as agreed at Glasgow will be delivered. The Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund and Global Environment Facility can only be relevant to Solomon Islands if they further simplify access procedures and deliver grant-based financing for adaptation that is, fit for purpose and impactful right down to Indigenous Peoples, who have proven to be the most effective guardians of nature and ocean,” the Minister told the conference.”
Climate change is inextricably linked to ocean change, Solomon Islands advocated.
“The increasing risks presented by Climate Change threatens the health and value of our ocean, our economic prosperity, identity, and livelihoods. I therefore urge that ocean be given equal recognition and greater prominence in the UNFCCC. For us, climate change is ocean change.”
As COP27 winds down, the Solomon Islands Minister left with a parting message.
“Let us not forget that beyond these walls, millions throughout the world, including our own children we left at home, are eagerly waiting for a positive outcome from Sharm El-Sheikh. Let us put our differences aside and ensure that COP27 is truly where all implementation of the Paris Agreement begins.”
Solomon Islands made their High-Level Statement on 15 November 2022 at COP27.
The 27th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP27) is being held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt from 6 to 18 November 2022.
It is being attended by Pacific leaders and their delegations, who are advocating for their survival. The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is lead of the One CROP, working together to provide support to Pacific Islands.