Palau, along with other Pacific island states at the COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, pushes for a separate financing facility to address loss and damage due to climate change and improve the “ability of small island developing states to cope with and adapt to climate change impacts.”
Minister Steven Victor, attending COP27 with President Surangel Whipps Jr., said that Palau and the Pacific are at the frontline of climate change impact while contributing very little to the causes of climate change.
“If nothing is done, by the beginning of the 2100 century, we probably won’t exist,” stated Minister Victor.
In the face of competing crises, such as the impacts of war in Ukraine and of the COVID-19 pandemic, the urgency of addressing climate change is dulled somewhat with developed countries.
Minister Victor said that the Pacific developing island countries would continue with a united voice to call on developed countries to do their part, their moral responsibility to mitigate climate change and address its impact.
“Pacific has always been the moral voice of climate change. It is about all of humanity. It impacts all of us,” added Victor saying that it is no longer about denying climate change.
“It is not just the small island states that are seeing the impact of climate change on individuals and economy.” Larger countries such as Pakistan are experiencing flooding and extraordinary heat melting asphalt roads in Europe, and globally people understand climate change.
“We will continue to emphasize that it is not just the impact of climate change on countries and people; it is about the impact on all of humanity,” stated Minister Victor in the message at this COP27.