Finance Ministers from across the Pacific met this week for the Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Suva, Fiji, to discuss pressing economic issues as well as focus on the region’s vulnerability to climate disasters.
After three days of deliberations, ministers welcomed the Port Vila Call for a Just Transition to a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific, and tasked the PIF Secretariat with progressing discussions on the region’s Just Transition through the formal Forum processes. The final communique requested leaders to consider issuing a formal declaration on a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting later this year.
This is the third Ministerial summit this year that has supported the Port Vila Call, with Energy and Transport Ministers calling for the endorsement of the Port Vila Call and the call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty in May.
While the Pacific Island Countries are responsible for a miniscule percentage of annual global emissions, they are on the frontline of the climate crisis, feeling its impacts through rising sea levels, more intense extreme weather events, increasing crop failure, diminishing marine ecosystems and both physical and social harms. It is said that fossil fuels are the primary cause of the climate crisis.
The call by the ministers redoubles the efforts and need for phase out of fossil fuels in a just and equitable manner in the region and complements the Pacific’s leadership in calling for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, supporting the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance and securing an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on climate change.
Seve Paeniu, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Government of Tuvalu said: “The Port Vila Call provides a clear framework for steps needed to enable a just transition in the Pacific, and the role of the international community both in phasing out fossil fuels first and fastest to prevent further devastating climate impacts, and providing the finance and support needed to support the transition.
“It is clear that we will benefit significantly from the global energy transition, however, any plans for a just transition must be co-created with Pacific peoples and ensure no country, community or worker is left behind. We urge rich countries to step up and provide financial assistance to enable the implementation of the Port Vila call and take proactive steps to phase out fossil fuels.”
Auimatagi Joe Moeono-Kolio, Pacific Director of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said: “It is encouraging to see the Port Vila Call being welcomed by the region’s Finance and Economic Ministers. Our region is facing the devastating consequences of the climate crisis and we need to accelerate climate action, including a just and equitable transition out of fossil fuels. For this to be feasible we need greater global governance to manage the fossil fuel phase out.
“We need an international mechanism to finance the just transition in the Pacific to end the proliferation of fossil fuels, we need a people-centred approach to ensure no one is left behind in this transition and most importantly, we need Australia and New Zealand to stop hampering the region’s efforts to address the greatest threat to our security and prosperity and make good on their platitudes of solidarity with the Pacific.”
Alisi Rabukawaqa, 350.org Pacific Council Elder, said: “The Port Vila call for a fossil fuel free Pacific and a just transition to renewable energy is yet another example of Pacific Island nations showing immense climate leadership despite being the least responsible for this crisis. It is encouraging to see this mantle taken up by our Economic Ministers. We hope that this evolves into a concerted global effort to protect frontline communities and transform financial and energy systems.
“We need to end the age of fossil fuels, but we also need to ensure our communities have the resources they need to thrive in this time of crisis. The phase out of fossil fuels must be accompanied by the rapid scale up of community-centred renewable energy, and a commitment from world leaders that the resources needed for the transition will reach those who need them most.”
The Port Vila Call will be tabled by Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Tonga, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Niue for discussion and endorsement at next month’s Environment Ministerial meeting in Apia, Samoa.
