The Pacific island nations, courted by China and the United States, alerted the superpowers and told the world’s two largest carbon emitters to take more action against climate change while promising unity in the face of a growing geopolitical contest.
Leaders at a four-day summit of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), meeting in Fiji’s capital, Suva, faced an attempt by China to split some of the nations into a trade and security agreement , while Washington pledged more financial and diplomatic commitment.
The exclusive economic zones of the 17 forum members cover 30 million square kilometers (11.6 million square miles) of ocean, providing half of the world’s most eaten tuna. Nations are also feeling some of the most serious effects of climate change as rising seas flood the lower areas.
At the PIF summit that ended Thursday, leaders adopted a language that several members have used to declare a climate emergency, saying this was not only supported by science but by the daily lives of people in the Pacific.
A statement, yet to be published, shows nations focused on the upcoming United Nations climate conference, COP27. They will push to double climate finance to flow from major emitters to developing countries within two years, money they say is needed to adapt to rising sea levels and worsening storms.
The statement, seen by Reuters news agency, also calls for significant progress at COP27 in funding “losses and damage” to vulnerable societies that cannot adapt and will have to relocate communities, a battle lost in talks World Climate Change last year.
“What matters most to us is to achieve bold commitments from all countries at COP27 to phase out coal and other fossil fuels and increase funding to the most vulnerable nations and advance causes such as the‘ losses and damage ’that matter so much to the most people. island communities at risk, “Fiji President Frank Bainimarama told reporters.
“We cannot settle for less than the survival of all Pacific island countries,” said Bainimarama, chairman of the forum.
Fiji President Frank Bainimarama has called for brave commitments to phase out coal and other fossil fuels [File: Kirsty Needham/Reuters]
Tuvalu Foreign Minister Simon Kofe, who literally made waves at the last world climate conference by getting to his knees in the sea water to show what his country is facing, went say to Reuters: “There is technology available to protect the islands and lift the islands and that is what we are looking for. It is very expensive.”
As the Pacific summit came to an end, stocks of Australian coal mines skyrocketed with expectations that China could resume imports after a two-year political dispute halted coal shipments to the largest coal burning. of the world its second largest exporter.
In contrast to the market bullish, the leaders of the forum’s thatched roof headquarters discussed how to deal with the status of people whose nation has sunk into rising seas, or the rights to defined fishermen. by its distance from a land mass that may disappear.
The statement cites an urgent need for assistance on debt vulnerability and rising food costs amid the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In a video address to the forum, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pledged to triple funding to the Pacific Islands for a decade under a fisheries treaty and open more embassies.
At times, Pacific leaders showed irritation at the global focus on the Washington-Beijing dispute over their region.
Australia, in tune, said less about safety and promised greater support for its neighbors ’climate change agenda, although maritime surveillance announcements to protect sustainable fishing hinted at its main anxiety.
“It is more difficult for countries responsible for most illegal fishing to argue that they will support the region in stopping illegal fishing,” Australian Pacific Minister Pat Conroy said in a statement. interview, referring to China.
Economic ties with China
Australian officials say privately that they do not want security options in the region driven by economic ties with China, and while the Pacific islands are sophisticated players, they need financial support because many have historic debts to Beijing.
Fiji, for example, has not borrowed from China since 2012, but continues to service export and import bank loans for Chinese infrastructure projects that will cost the government $ 40 million from Fiji ($ 18 million). ) this year, as shown by the budget documents.
Australian Strategic Policy Institute analyst Michael Shoebridge said Beijing has a history of “fragmented regionalism”, drawing a parallel between its recent Pacific diplomacy and a platform it created a long time ago. decade to relate to European countries and avoid the European Union.
Some leaders said in interviews that China offered economic opportunities that small island economies could not ignore, although they agreed to work through the forum to stay united in their response to competition from great powers, especially in security. , following concerns that Beijing reached a security agreement in April with the Solomon Islands.
The forum’s secretary-general openly criticized China’s offer to have half of the forum’s members sign a trade and security agreement in May that would exclude members with ties to Taiwan and exclude Australia and New Zealand. Summit leaders said it had rushed without consultation.
The Chinese embassy in Fiji responded on Twitter on Saturday, saying Beijing had prepared and presented the final document to the Pacific islands a month before a meeting of foreign ministers. Beijing has created a new platform for cooperation with Pacific island countries through an annual meeting with its foreign minister, he said.