Pacific Island Nations Declare Climate Crisis

“Climate change poses the single greatest threat to the human rights and security of present and future generations of Pacific Island peoples”

Nadi Bay, Fiji - On July 30, leaders from Pacific Islands nations declared a climate crisis stating that if immediate action isn’t taking to address climate change they fear their lands will be "uninhabitable as early as 2030."

At the two-day Pacific Islands Development Forum hosted by Fiji, leaders from Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Timor Leste and Tonga released the joint declaration warning of grave consequences to their Island Nations due to the impacts of climate change.

They specifically call out the lack of action being taken by so-called developed Nations for their in-action on addressing the climate crisis.

From the declaration they state, “Express deep concern about the lack of comprehension, ambition, or commitment shown by developed nations of the world regarding the impending grave consequences that the current and ongoing Climate Crisis poses for vulnerable Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), which contribute negligible amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to this human-caused global problem.”

Further the declaration calls for, “all coal producers to immediately cease any new mining of coal and develop a strategy for a decadal phase-out and closure of all existing coal production.” and for, “all parties to take immediate measures to relinquish the subsidies to fossil fuel production and use and support a transition to appropriate and affordable technologies.”

Read the full declaration here