Tonga, the sixth most climate-vulnerable country in the world, is hosting Pacific leaders this week. The nation gained global attention in 2021 after the devastating eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano, which resulted in numerous fatalities and significant damage to its infrastructure.
Since that incident, Tonga has endured multiple cyclones, and its public debt has climbed to over 40 percent of its GDP. These fiscal pressures hinder its ability to achieve global development goals and adequately prepare for future climate challenges. Like other Pacific nations, Tonga recognizes the urgent need for a robust strategy to confront the challenges of a world experiencing over 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming.
Tonga’s Prime Minister, Hu’akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, is chairing the 53rd meeting of Blue Pacific leaders this week, where he aims to identify and align the region’s priorities while inclusively considering diverse perspectives from fellow leaders.
Tonga has shared its vision for a transformative and resilient Pacific, stressing that the region must start building resilience now. Effective leadership at the regional level is essential, alongside strong partnerships and sufficient resources to enhance resilience during this critical decade.
The agenda for Pacific leaders includes discussing the associate membership of Guam and American Samoa in the Forum, further integrating the US into Pacific affairs. This development has been long overdue, marking a significant shift in the US recognizing its status as a Pacific power.
Another major issue on the agenda is the decolonization pathway for New Caledonia. Many leaders believe that a gradual approach is no longer sufficient and that decisive, time-bound actions are necessary to ensure a non-violent conclusion to the decolonization process.
Pacific leaders will also work on advancing the Pacific Resilience Facility and addressing transnational crime, its implications for local economies, and the ongoing implementation of the 2050 Strategy known as the Blue Pacific’s Southern Cross.
Amidst a challenging global environment, including conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, Pacific leaders are acutely aware of heightened geopolitical tensions in their region. This situation is characterized by intense competition over maritime, seabed, and land resources, heightening the risk of miscalculations and conflicts due to misunderstandings between superpowers.
In this context, Tonga’s leadership is crucial in revitalizing Pacific international diplomacy, as many significant decisions affecting both small island and larger states occur beyond their shores.
Given that the world may have exceeded the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming target, this meeting of Pacific leaders is particularly significant. Each increment beyond this threshold complicates economic adaptation and increases costs. If global temperatures rise above 2 degrees Celsius, adaptation efforts in the Pacific may become nearly unfeasible, necessitating a reevaluation of infrastructure projects and building standards.
Pacific finance ministers have raised concerns about their limited fiscal capacity to address development needs while preparing for the next crisis, as the costs of recovering from increasingly severe storms continue to rise. This situation calls for immediate and coordinated actions among Pacific leaders.
First, leaders should assert that failing to fulfill commitments under the Paris Agreement is tantamount to declaring war on Pacific island nations. Beyond resolving the war in Ukraine, addressing climate change is essential for maintaining peace and security in the Blue Pacific.
Second, Pacific leaders should prioritize operationalizing the Pacific Resilience Facility. This facility represents a crucial step towards enabling the region to manage its climate response effectively rather than relying solely on international aid, which is often slow and cumbersome.
The PRF could evolve into a development bank for the Pacific, promoting regional sovereignty and self-management of climate finance, thus enhancing resilience against climate crises.
Additionally, leaders must clearly articulate their demand for climate funds, aiming for a tenfold increase in financing, estimating needs between $1.5 to $2 billion annually. This clarity should guide their international diplomacy, particularly in discussions at the upcoming climate conference in Azerbaijan.
Pacific island states also seek the cancellation of their climate debt to recover financial flexibility necessary for development, especially as adaptation windows close rapidly, often within a decade.
As the Pacific community welcomes the Uto ni Yalo from Fiji, there should be a renewed focus on the Blue Economy, recognizing the region’s resources as vital assets. Leaders may declare the Blue Pacific an “Ocean of Peace,” fostering better protection and sustainable management of marine resources.
Pacific leaders will also convene at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York, where they can advocate for a significant change in international financial structures to better support small island nations and ensure their voices are heard in global governance.
This pivotal meeting of Pacific leaders offers a crucial opportunity to address these urgent issues. The stakes for Pacific Islanders are incredibly high, and their future depends on the outcomes of these deliberations.