A delegation of farmer-leaders from the Pacific Farmer Organisations is set to attend the UN Climate Summit (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, with a vital message: climate finance must directly reach the farmers and communities facing the brunt of the climate crisis. Their advocacy is reinforced by alarming new research indicating that Pacific small-scale farmers require approximately USD 77 million annually to adapt their food systems to climate change, yet currently receive a mere 1.47% of that funding.
The significant shortfall poses a dire threat to the region’s food security, cultural identity, and the well-being of its communities. Ilisapeci Vakacegu, Programs Manager for Policy and Advocacy at Pacific Farmer Organisations, highlighted the system’s failures, stating, “The main factor causing this breakdown is accessibility. It takes money just to be able to access funding. The system ends up serving institutions rather than farmers.”
Throughout the two-week summit, the delegation will advocate for “direct and fair finance,” urging global leaders to streamline funding through more efficient farmer-led mechanisms, including the Pacific Farmer Organisations Climate Resilient Farming Framework and the proposed Global Farmer’s Resilience and Empowerment Fund. Such mechanisms promise to deliver resources where they are most urgently needed—on-the-ground farmer-led solutions that tackle immediate challenges while preparing for future threats.
Vakacegu asserted that farmers are the backbone of Pacific food systems, emphasizing that the stakes extend beyond economic factors. “If farmers cannot adapt, we risk losing a part of our culture and centuries of traditional knowledge,” she warned. The delegation, representing nearly three-quarters of the Pacific’s population that relies on agriculture and fishing, will argue that appropriately funding farmer-led adaptation is not only essential to food security but is also a crucial pathway to ensuring a resilient future for the Pacific.
Echoing sentiments from the recent Post-COP29 meetings, Pacific leaders are increasingly vocal about climate finance needs. Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister, Biman Prasad, stressed the critical role of the Pacific nations in international discussions, highlighting their demand for justice and accountability in addressing climate change impacts. As the Pacific nations prepare for COP30, there is a unified resolve among leaders: they must assert their stance and be recognized as key players in the global climate dialogue.
The hopeful tone among Pacific leaders emphasizes innovative, locally-driven solutions that blend traditional knowledge with modern technology, enhancing resilience in food systems. This collaborative approach, reinforced by the region’s commitment to advocating for adequate climate financing, positions the Pacific as a potential model for addressing global climate challenges effectively.
Through sustained advocacy and calls for direct financing, the Pacific Farmer Organisations and regional leaders are poised to drive home the message that supporting farmers is not just an investment in agriculture, but a profound commitment to preserving culture, community, and resilience against an impending climate crisis.
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