At the COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil, Palau’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment, Steven Victor, issued a powerful call to action for world leaders to fulfill climate targets and deliver on financial commitments to support the most vulnerable nations. Echoing the sentiments of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Victor emphasized the urgent challenges facing small island states, defining COP30 as the “COP of Truth” for these frontline communities impacted by climate change.
Victor poignantly noted the critical timing in Belém, stating, “The clock is ticking down on the final moments for the COP of Truth. For our vulnerable countries who are suffering the unjust, disproportionate, escalating impact of climate change, these final moments mean everything.” He elaborated on the lengths he traveled from the Western Pacific to convey that the discussions at the conference could either secure a future for his grandchildren or lead to the loss of their islands.
Highlighting the precarious state of small island states, he warned that they are nearing the threshold of 1.5°C global warming, driven by insufficient action from more affluent countries. “Unless we choose the path of course correction, right here and now, leaders are dooming our world to disaster,” Victor asserted, stressing that the lack of adherence to the Paris Agreement continues to expose vulnerable nations to worsening climate impacts.
Victor pointed out that unfulfilled commitments under the Paris Agreement have devastating consequences for his people, who are experiencing the heavy toll of unprecedented storms and the degradation of coral reefs, which are vital to their food systems and culture. He called for a reinforcement of the 1.5°C goal, asserting that “countries are duly bound to enact the most stringent ambition to achieve this goal.”
He commended the presidency of Brazil for its leadership and reaffirmed the Alliance of Small Island States’ (AOSIS) commitment to tangible climate action. Victor highlighted the necessity of basing outcomes on the best available science, as articulated under the Mutirão Decision, and stressed the importance of significant increases in adaptation funding.
With the ongoing challenges of climate finance, he described vulnerable nations as having been “shortchanged” on the goal of mobilizing $100 billion annually for climate initiatives. He urged for an increase to $120 billion per year by 2030, pointing out that developing countries will require around $350 billion annually for adaptation by 2035. Victor called upon developed nations to honor their obligations under Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement and engage in substantive discussions focused on financial support for climate actions.
Framing climate action as both a moral duty and an existential necessity, he urged decision-makers to demonstrate multilateralism at its best, calling for transformative actions to realign with the 1.5°C goal and safeguard the planet for future generations. The urgency of Victor’s message resonates not only for small island states but as a reminder of the collective responsibility to tackle climate change and support vulnerable nations in their fight for survival.
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