By Reverend James Bhagwan * Opinion - "We will not sign our death certificate. We cannot sign on to text that does not have strong commitments on phasing out fossil fuels." These were the words of Samoa's Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, speaking in his capacity as chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) at the UNFCCC COP28 in Dubai, last year.
Outside, Pacific Climate activists and allies, led by the Pacific Climate Warriors, were calling for a robust and comprehensive financial package that would see the full, fast, and fair transition away from fossil fuels and into renewable energy in the Global South. This is our Pacific Way in action: state parties and civil society working together to remind the world as we approach a "finance COP" with the upcoming COP29 in Azerbaijan that we cannot be conveniently pigeon-holed. We are people who represent not only communities but landscapes and seascapes that are both vulnerable, and resilient, and should not be forced by polluting countries and the much subsidised and profit-focused fossil fuel industries that lobby them to choose between mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage.
Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) are the uncomfortable reminder for those who want smooth sailing of their agenda at COP29, that while we are able to hold the tension of our vulnerability and resilience in the Pacific, this may make for choppy seas. I recently had the privilege of jo.
