Climate change is here and now. With hotter summers and colder winters that the world faces, it brings the greatest losses for the most vulnerable countries with the least capacity to address these climate issues. Climate impacts must be addressed immediately, said Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Samoa, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States at a high-level meeting during COP29, Report informs.
"Scientists are calling for immediate reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to ensure world security. At the same time, the world is spending trillions on fossil fuel infrastructure. The preparation and implementation of the most ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) is a critical part of solutions under the Paris Agreement, and countries are at different stages," he said.
Substantial emission reductions must be a key priority in developing NDCs. The fragile economies, limited resources, and remoteness of island states must be fully considered in the new Agreement, whose goal, if it does not recognize the special case of small island states, will not be achieved, he said.
"At COP26, we were promised a doubling of adaptation financing, and we were assured that our partners are working to mobilize these funds. But in recent years, access to adaptation financing has become more than difficult for us," Schuster stated.
According to him, COP29 must deliver a substantial mitigation outcome that will allow developing countries to advance the agreement reached last year under the UAE consensus, which is critical to achieving the 1.5-degree goal and ensuring the planet's security and prosperity. The newly established Loss and Damage Response Fund must become operational.
"The connection between ocean and climate is evident. Healthy oceans are fundamental to achieving our 1.5-degree goal," he emphasized.
The Samoan representative also expressed solidarity with Australia in its bid to host COP31 or the Pacific COP, recognizing that this platform is necessary to advance global awareness and action on climate issues that disproportionately affect island communities. He also thanked the government of Azerbaijan for their warm hospitality and excellent organization of the conference.