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Climate Change Climate Change

Tuvalu’s Simon Kofe sends a message to COP26. Photos: Tuvalu Government

SETBACKS AT COP26 CLIMATE TALKS

By Nic Maclellan Strong Pacific voices
Faced with the difficulty of travelling halfway round the
On one hand, the index finger is raised. On the other, five world in the middle of the pandemic, Pacific delegations were
digits are displayed. One point five. 1.5 to stay alive. smaller this year than for previous summits. Working together
In the midst of the global pandemic, Pacific delegations mo- as a “One CROP” team, government negotiators were joined
bilised to campaign for more urgent action on climate change by technical experts from the Pacific Islands Forum Secre-
at this month’s 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) in tariat, SPREP, and Pacific Community. Supported by church
Glasgow. A central demand at the annual climate negotiations and civil society representatives, CROP agencies used more
was to keep global temperatures below 1.5 degrees Celsius Tik-Tok, Facebook and other social media to amplify messages
above pre-industrial levels. from the Pacific. Tuvalu Foreign Minister Simon Kofe presented
At the end of the negotiations, Pacific Islands Forum chair his virtual speech to the summit standing knee deep in the
Voreqe Bainimarama concluded: “The 1.5-degree target ocean – an image that spread around the world.
leaves Glasgow battered, bruised, but alive. Vinaka to our Before the summit, Forum island leaders and CROP agencies
Pacific negotiators for a heroic effort at COP26 to secure a coordinated to appoint six “climate champions” – government
path away from coal and fossil fuel subsidies in our final deal. ministers who could assist with political lobbying to back up
The compromise we’ve struck will only count if nations now negotiators in key sectors. Pacific Islands Forum Secretary
deliver.” General Henry Puna said the appointment of these climate
Despite this brave face, COP26 was a strategic setback for champions “was one of the innovations that has really suc-
Small Island Developing States and other vulnerable peoples ceeded here at COP26.”
and communities. Negotiators from major industrialised Puna praised the work of young and not so young Pacific
countries were successful in weakening the final consensus islanders – the Pacific Climate Warriors, Pacific Islands Climate
decisions, blocking stronger initiatives to reduce emissions Action Network (PICAN) and ecumenical leaders like PCC’s
this decade. While some technical advances were made, the Reverend James Bhagwan – who braved the rain and cold of
fossil fuel lobby and the governments that serve them once Glasgow to speak out about Pacific concerns.
again delayed crucial measures. “I remember with pride the opening day of COP26 when

30 Islands Business, November 2021