It’s a global responsibility to bolster Pacific Islands bearing the brunt of climate change
It’s a global responsibility to bolster Pacific Islands bearing the brunt of climate change
In 1995, the Solomon Islands Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador to the United States and High Commissioner to Canada, Mr Rex Horoi, compared the Pacific Islands to canaries in coal mines when it comes to their climate change experiences.
Nearly 30 years on, the now Special Envoy on Climate Change for Monash University is still working to protect the region through the Pacific Action on Climate Transitions (PACT) research centre and says there is more than ever to be done to combat the worsening global crisis.
“Last year, when I spoke at COP27 in Egypt, we were still talking about the issues of Small Islands and Developing States (SIDS) that are not responsible for the pollution of the world but are faced with the brunt of the impact,” Mr Horoi says.
“The biggest question that now arises is around financing and the responsibility of the governments as well as the private sector, civil society and non-state actors to come together to address the urgency.”
Mr Horoi believes the world has been too slow to realise and respond to climate change’s impact on business and economics, especially in the Pacific region where small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) make up 70–80 percent of countries’ economies.
“What we really want to see is meaningful research that will impact real-world policies”
“Last year, when I spoke at COP27 in Egypt, we were still talking about the issues of Small Islands and Developing states (SIDS) that are not responsible for the pollution of the world but are faced with the brunt of the impact,” Mr Horoi says.
“The biggest question that now arises is around financing and the responsibility of the governments as well as the private sector, civil society and non-state actors to come together to address the urgency.”
Mr Horoi believes the world has been too slow to realise and respond to climate change’s impact on business and economics, especially in the Pacific region where small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) make up 70-80 per cent of countries’ economies.
“It’s important to strengthen our governance and the legislative framework in the region, build the capacity of local and regional stakeholders including policymakers, community leaders and practitioners, while also working to improve access to, and effective use of, climate finance,” he says.
“We must also investigate the impact of climate change on macro-economics and geopolitical factors that influence future sustainable development for Pacific industries and services in the Pacific region.”
Mr Horoi says it’s important to ensure policies relating to climate change and economic well-being in the Pacific are reliable, meaningful and impactful to address real issues on the ground such as loss and damage, food insecurity and relocation of vulnerable coastal communities.
“Monash’s Impact 2030 strategic plan charts the path (by which) the university will address climate change, geopolitical security, thriving communities, all of which are connected within the work PACT will be undertaking,” he says.
This is a global problem which demands a global solution, Mr Horoi says.
“To keep the Pacific islands afloat there must be mitigation, adaptation, collaboration and financing of climate change activities to ensure that we build resilience and find medium and long-term solutions to address the climate crisis.”
