Climate finance crisis: Small Island Developing States plea for action

Stanley Ihedigbo

COP29 Leaders’ Summit of Small Island Developing States on Climate Change in Baku has sparked urgent calls to action from representatives of Pacific Island countries.

Country Program Manager for ActionAid Vanuatu, Flora Vano, emphasized the devastating impact of climate change on Vanuatu, citing twin cyclones and an out-of-season cyclone that ravaged livelihoods.

Vano stressed that rich polluting countries must acknowledge their moral and historical obligation to provide climate finance, urging world leaders to remember the fate of millions living in small Island states hangs in the balance.

ActionAid International’s Executive Director, Michelle Higelin, echoed this sentiment, labeling it an injustice that Pacific Island countries, which contributed minimally to climate change, face existential threats.

Rich polluting countries, including Australia, must embrace their moral obligation and make a clear commitment to provide at least USD 1 trillion in climate grants under the new climate finance goal.

A failure to provide this funding would be yet another stab in the back for our Pacific neighbors who have been let down for so long.”