Key Impact Points:
- Urgent Call for Action: Small island nations unite at the UN, demanding immediate and decisive global action on climate change.
- Pledges Must Become Deeds: Leaders emphasize that mere words and “empty pledges” will not save future generations; financial commitments must be fulfilled.
- Frontline Vulnerabilities: Island nations highlight the severe impacts they are already facing, from rising sea levels to extreme weather events.
Leaders of small island nations gathered at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, issuing a unified plea for urgent global action to combat the climate crisis. They stressed that their countries are on the frontlines of climate change and that the international community must move beyond promises to concrete deeds.
Understanding Vulnerability
“We are on the frontlines of the climate crisis,” stated Wavel Ramkalawan, President of Seychelles. “Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and the degradation of our oceans are stark reminders of the urgent need for global action on climate change.”
He emphasized that “words are nothing without deeds,” highlighting the disparity between global military expenditure of $2.5 trillion and the “modest and insignificant” $100 billion allocated for loss and damage.
No One Is Immune
José Maria Pereira Neves, President of Cabo Verde, warned that while small island states are the first affected, “no one is immune to this catastrophe in the making.” He urged immediate attention to rising sea levels, noting that the challenge is multidimensional and affects all continents and regions.
He called for “bolder commitments from high-emission countries” and the swift implementation of climate policies and funding mechanisms.
The Triple Planetary Crisis
Addressing the “triple planetary crisis” of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona, President of the Dominican Republic, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to establishing the loss and damage fund and achieving the 30×30 goal in protecting maritime territory.
Breaking the Cycle of Empty Promises
Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana, lamented the pattern of unkept promises at annual climate conferences. “We must break free from this pattern of empty pledges,” he asserted. “We must, unequivocally and immediately, fulfill all pledges for the sake of our planet and the future of all its inhabitants.”
A Daily Reality
Sylvanie Burton, President of Dominica, shared her nation’s experiences with devastating storms. “We see it so vividly, year after year, that our communities are on the frontlines, facing intensified hurricanes, devastating floods, and prolonged droughts,” she said.
Recalling the destruction caused by Tropical Storm Erika in 2015 and Hurricane Maria in 2017, she stressed that “business as usual simply will not suffice. We need urgent, bold, and decisive action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, as science clearly dictates.”
Refusing to Be Silenced
From the Pacific, Hilda Heine, President of the Marshall Islands, declared that rising seas are already consuming her nation’s coastline. “We will not be wiped off the map, nor will we go silently to our watery graves,” she affirmed.
She urged world leaders to prevent the melting of the cryosphere and criticized wealthy nations for “doubling down on fossil fuels.” “This failure of leadership must stop—no new coal mines, no new gas fields, no new oil wells,” she emphasized.
The Time for Action Is Now
The united message from these island nations is clear: the time for action is now. They call upon the international community to honor financial commitments, reduce emissions drastically, and support the most vulnerable regions in building resilience against the imminent threats posed by climate change.
Related Article: SDG News Feature: The Pacific Island Forum – “Build Better Now” in the Kingdom of Tonga
