The run up to this year’s summit in Glasgow has been described as the moment (delayed by a year due to the pandemic) when countries update their plans for reducing emissions. It has been reported that the commitments laid out in Paris did not come close to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, and the window for achieving this is closing.
We will hear from the NDC Hub Steering Committee Chair, Tutii Chilton as part of the update on behalf of the NDC Hub and its countries represented at the COP26.
Q. What role will this COP26 event play considering the next 10 years in closing out this decade for the Pacific regarding climate action and its consequences?
A. I hope it will expose financial opportunities for Pacific Islands to meet their contributions within the Mitigation sector as well as the Adaptation sector. The biggest hurdle for Pacific Island Countries and Territories are Funding to get the best possible technology to help the island meet its NDC requirements, as well as move each island towards a more self-sufficient model… a possible fossil fuel free nation, either in Electricity production or Transportation or both.
Q. What is the Pacific’s message to the COP26 in the context of Pacific NDCs?
A. The Pacific is moving towards their commitments with their limited resources and we encourage all nations to do so. Politics aside, climate change is here no matter what people think and island nations are being affected to the point where some Island will not be here while we are still arguing if there is such a thing as climate change. So, we need to prepare for this by encouraging and showing Island nations and vulnerable nations that we also need to focus of Adaptation, specifically what needs to be done for rising ocean, frequent typhoons, droughts and lose of food sources? We need to look at adaptation to also address Energy, Water and Food security for all people.
Q. What is the level of expectation from the NDC HUB regarding the Pacific’s participation at the COP26?
Well because of possible travel restrictions it might be a small group but if we can get the same voice and remind the bigger nations that produce more emissions than island nations that we have one voice to prepare (Adaptation) for climate change then I think we have a bigger impact. Especially for the most vulnerable islands of Tuvalu, Kiribati and other Atoll islands. This is no longer a political or scientific argument. It is really people’s lives we are dealing with. We need to show the faces of those affected not by their own behaviors but by the behavior of those living in larger nations enjoy the modern comforts of life. Those same comforts that are linked to climate change.
Q. How should the Pacific work together to have a stronger voice during these negotiations?
If at all possible have one voice and a list of top priorities that are not negotiable and then agree to act if these priorities are not address. Specifically, funding, technology and capacity building are just 3 of the ideas. Pacific Islands will need to agree if these are the top 3 or make another list.
Q. For the Pacific people, especially the youth, what is the importance of knowing of these events (such as COP26) and how can they contribute at their own local/community level?
A. Our youth will be the one living with the changes and hopefully will be the ones coming up solutions and the only way to find solutions is to be aware of the problems. We can no longer treat our youth as kids. They are our partners and do bring a lot to the table if we can recognize that they can learn, be creative and help find solutions to our climate crisis that we created, then and only then can we move towards the future with hope that we are not letting our future down and know that a solution is possible, it is possible in our youth if we train and prepare them now for an uncertain future but a least they will have skills and current tools to address any challenge new and old and still be able to maintain and develop our Oceanic cultures and not only survive but thrive into the next century.
