Page 17 - IB May 2021

Climate

SUMMITS ON THE ROAD TO GLASGOW

By Nic Maclellan tion, RMI President David Kabua stated: “Too often … coun-
tries hear the excuse that steep emission cuts are too costly,
As countries prepare for the next round of global climate but political signals, especially from the major economies,
negotiations in Glasgow, major powers are organising a series shape decisions on investment and innovation for low-carbon
of summits and initiatives to ramp up ambition towards the pathways. Now is the moment for the signal to be unequivo-
targets set by the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. cal. The recovery from COVID-19 gives us a rare chance to
Pacific island leaders, however, are concerned that existing invest in a safer and healthier world.”
emissions reduction is nowhere near enough to stave off dev- With many countries already committed to net zero emis-
astating damage to livelihoods and environment. There are sions by 2050, President Biden joined a number of key indus-
also difficulties translating climate funding pledges into action trial states to make new pledges for interim targets in 2030.
on the ground, reinforcing the Forum’s decision to establish a He committed the United States to a 50 to 53% reduction of
new US$1.5 billion Pacific Resilience Fund. emissions by 2030 (compared to 2005). Japan announced a
United States President Joe Biden aims to improve Amer- 46% cut by 2030 (relative to 2013), while the United Kingdom
ica’s global prestige after the Trump era, hosting a virtual set out an ambitious target of a 78% reduction by 2035 (com-
Leaders’ Summit on Climate on 22-23 April. As countries focus pared to 1990). Canada also promised to reduce emissions 40
on the global coronavirus pandemic and US-China competi- to 45% by 2030 from 2005 levels.
tion, Biden’s climate envoy John Kerry is hoping the climate While welcoming these commitments, Pacific Islands Forum
crisis will be high on the agenda at the next G-7 summit, to Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor said “it is disheartening
be held in the United Kingdom in June. that the urgency to act decisively to curb the global climate
The new surge of summitry aims to generate stronger change emergency has not been taken favourably by other
climate pledges before the next round of formal climate major emitters.”
negotiations at the Conference of the Parties (COP 26) under Once again, the largest member of the Pacific Islands Forum
the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held continues to lag behind other industrialised powers. Australian
in Glasgow next November. Prime Minister Scott Morrison made no new pledges at the
summit. He continues to dance around making a commitment
US pledges to net zero emissions by 2050 – a pledge already made by 110
The United States accounts for 15% of global CO2 emissions countries and the European Union (with a flurry of public-
and is the largest historical emitter, so the Biden Leaders’ ity, Canberra will no doubt make an announcement about its
Summit saw a welcome reversal of the climate denialism of target for 2050 either at the G-7, the 2021 Forum leaders
the Trump White House. Three countries from Oceania were meeting or just before COP26 Glasgow).
amongst 40 world leaders invited to the virtual summit. Aus- Morrison’s government, however, has refused to commit to
tralia and New Zealand participated alongside the Republic of new interim targets for 2030 beyond the existing pledge of 26
Marshall Islands, the only Forum Island Country at the meeting to 28%. Longstanding criticism from Forum Island countries
(Fiji’s government expressed concern it had not merited an over Australian exports of coal and other fossil fuels is now
invitation, as a former COP host and incoming Forum chair). matched by unprecedented public criticism from Washington.
Highlighting his country’s role in the Higher Ambition Coali- As with the Biden Summit, the G-7 meeting will put political

Islands Business, May 2021 17