Climate Change

France ups climate finance pledge to €5bn in 2020

That was announced by President Francois Hollande at the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday, in a bid to leverage more action.

The host nation of this December’s critical Paris climate summit will also increase the amount available as grants, and not as loans, he said.

“We need developed countries to take on financial commitments… we have to make sure that emerging economies, developing countries can be sure they will be helped.”

Hollande noted that the developed world had yet to deliver on its promise to raise US$100 billion of climate finance in 2020.

Climate induced migration focus of Kiribati conference

The country's foreign affairs secretary, Akka Rimon, says the meeting is the outcome of recent talks between President Anote Tong and Monaco's Prince Albert II.

He says Prince Albert, the leaders and representatives of Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands, the Maldives, and Tokelau, as well as representatives from 17 United Nations agencies are expected to attend.

Mr Rimon says the meeting will highlight the impacts of climate change and ways affected countries plan to deal with climate induced migration with dignity.

Film Highlighting Climate Change and Migration Launched in Suva

“The Land Beyond the Horizon” captures the stories of Pacific islanders whose lands and livelihoods are threatened by climate change, as well as those who have had to relocate to other countries, and discusses the impacts on their lives, cultures, languages and traditions. 

The film also features exclusive footage and interviews with prominent leaders such as the President Anote Tong of Kiribati, Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga of  Tuvalu and Mary Robinson, the United Nations Special Envoy on Climate Change – leaders in the frontline of climate change efforts throughout the world.

PACER Plus Parties urged not to conclude talks with Australia and New Zealand

14 Pacific Island Countries have been locked in six year negotiations with Australia and New Zealand over PACER Plus (Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations). 

The Governor of Oro in Papua New Guinea, Gary Juffa, a strong critic of PACER Plus told PACNEWS in Suva that Pacific Island Parties have been taken for a ride by Australia and New Zealand, as revealed in the leaked negotiating text on ‘development and economic co-operation’ published on the PINA website.

Kiribati President commends Fiji on climate change leadership

In an exclusive interview with FBC News, President Anote Tong says he will be convening an extraordinary meeting with other Pacific island countries to discuss the issue of climate induced migration.

“Fiji has been the one country that’s been the most forthcoming and I think it’s challenging every other country. I think this is the kind of response that has been sadly lacking in the past. There has been no leadership of this and Fiji is taking leadership”.

The recent deportation of Kiribati national Ioane Teitiota from New Zealand last week has had a rippling effect.

Pacific Climate Warriors on Climate Change Tour in Europe

The Alternatiba started with less than ten people. They cycled around France, stopping in 187 cities to show that ecological and social alternatives were available. Three of the Pacific Climate Warriors, Niten Anni from the Marshall Islands, Litiana  Kalsrap from Vanuatu, and Litia Maiava from Tokelau cycled with them when they arrived at Ile Saint-Denis to show the power of solidarity.

“We are here to share our stories and highlight the interconnectedness in the climate crisis and how it is being addressed,” stated Litia Maiava.

Defining moment for Pacific Community at United Nations in New York

Pacific Community Director-General, Dr Colin Tukuitonga, has highlighted climate change, youth, oceans and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the organisation’s inaugural statement at UN headquarters, made during the UN Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

“The global community has adopted a new Sustainable Development Agenda, and a new global agreement on climate change is expected in Paris later this year.  Let me say that from our perspective there cannot be Sustainable Development Goals without a binding agreement in Paris.

Solomon Islands PM satisfied with PSIDS-US meeting on Climate change

 The leaders discussed the issue of Climate Change at the margins of the 70th UN General Assembly meeting in New York.

Prime Minister Sogavare said the meeting concluded with a resolution by the Pacific SIDS Leaders to speak with one firm voice on climate change as agreed upon in the Suva Declaration on Climate Change.

The Suva Declaration emanated from the recent Pacific Islands Development Forum held in Suva, Fiji.

Fijian PM highlight obstacles to UN Development Goals, promote Suva Declaration

He was speaking at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in New York.

“Many developing countries do not have the financial resources to do what is needed to fulfil the goals. Many countries have the ideas, the plans and the resolve to act; but do not have the financial backing they need,” he said.

“If we can recognise that the lack of funding is what can hold many of us back, then it should be one of the key critical issues to be discussed in this summit. We have our goals. Now, how do we get there? We must make affordable financing for sustainable progress a reality.

Informal talks on climate change reveal broad support for ‘durable’ deal

The agreement will accelerate investments in clean energy and spur a global, low-carbon transformation well before the end of the century, consistent with a below 2 degrees Celsius pathway.

“Leaders expressed their resolve to finalize a durable, meaningful agreement in Paris that applies to all countries,” Ban told reporters following a high-level working lunch held on the margins of the UN Sustainable Development Summit, which opened in New York on Friday and wraps up later today.