6 December 2023, UAE – Achieving the promise of the Paris Agreement to keep the global temperature to 1.5°C requires global efforts to mitigate and drastically lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Here at COP28, the Pacific Small Islands Developing States are negotiating for strong commitments to reducing GHGs, one way of which is to phase out fossil fuels and do away with fossil fuel subsidies.
Now at the mid-way mark of the climate change negotiations, we spoke to Ms Toiata Uili, the lead coordinator for the Pacific Small Islands Developing States for the Mitigation workstream to learn how tbe Pacific is faring on their quest to reach a compromise that achieves the 1.5 world.
Q. What is it that the Pacific Small Islands Developing States are negotiating for here at COP28 when it comes to mitigation?
“In the mitigation space we are looking at pushing and keeping the 1.5 alive and that’s very important, that’s at the forefront of all our mitigation negotiations and discussions. At the same time, we are pushing towards tripling the renewable energy capacity as well as doubling the energy efficiency technologies. We’re also calling for a phase out of fossil fuels which aligns with the science available through the IPCC report if we are to achieve the Paris Agreement goals. The commitment to phasing out fossil fuels must be strengthened. We need to send a strong signal to the developed countries, that we (SIDS) are at the forefront of the impacts of climate change. Its important to keep that 1.5 language alive.”
Q. The Global Stocktake has more or less told us that we need to take urgent action to achieve the Paris Agreement. How are things going in this space?
“Well it’s interesting, because at the same time there’s a mix of not only just in terms of language, but also feelings amongst parties but at the end of the day I think it’s all going to come together and we’re going to have a landing zone.
For the Pacific Small Islands Developing States we must phase out fossil fuels and end fossil fuels subsidies and that’s important and while we are asking for that, we are also asking to increase their renewable energy commitments in terms of finance, technology, capacity building – we’re seeking a support package that comes with it overall. We’re consistently looking at all avenues available to us.
From the PSIDS point of view its important to keep pushing and to keep continuing to hold the line. If we lose that momentum of keeping the 1.5 alive, we’re going to lose our chances of survival in the face of climate change impacts. Even though there are mixed feelings within the negotiation rooms this won’t stop us, as Pacific Small Islands Developing States we are making sure that our voices are heard within this space.”
Q. After today we will have one week remaining of negotiations – what’s our plan ahead as Pacific Small Islands Developing States?
“We have a strategy, we are working with and reaching out to communities and NGOs that are louder in helping to amplify our voice outside of the negotiations rooms. After today we’re also going to enhance our strategy ahead. So many of us travelled here to Dubai to make a difference for our Pacific people and that is what we are going to do. We are working hard for our families so that we achieve as much as we can in the mitigation workstream for their survival. We’re holding the line and we’re going to strengthen our strategy and continue doing everything we can to have stronger commitments to achieve a 1.5 world for us all.”
The 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP28) in Dubai, UAE is taking place from Thursday 30 November 2023 – Tuesday 12 December 2023.
It is being attended by Pacific leaders and their delegations, who are advocating for the survival of Pacific communities that continue to be at the forefront of climate change impacts.