As the final official day of COP29 dawns, development, climate and social sector agencies and Pacific and First Nations communities are urgently calling on the Australian Government in an open letter to do everything they can to support low-income countries bearing the brunt of the climate crisis.
The coalition of NGOs, including Oxfam Australia, ActionAid and the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, are calling on Minister Bowen, who is influential in his role as Ministerial Pair on the climate finance negotiations, to lead the way on a landing an agreement that ensures a needs-based new global climate finance goal of over $1 trillion.
This funding is critical to support countries least responsible for the climate crisis to transition to renewable energy, set their emission reductions goals, and also to prepare for and recover from climate change impacts caused by wealthy industrialised countries.
The group is calling for loss and damage to be included in the new climate finance goal as a top priority for Pacific communities, who are experiencing the impacts of climate change through more severe storms, droughts and sea level rise.
Oxfam Australia Policy and Advocacy Lead, Josie Lee, said:
"With negotiations on climate finance expected to continue through to Sunday, now is the time for high polluting countries like Australia to start putting meaningful figures and compromises on the table to land this critically important agreement for our future.
"Oxfam research shows that in the Pacific there has been a 700% increase in the number of people impacted by climate disasters in the past decade, compared to the previous decade. This shows the impacts of climate change are already devastating these communities, and funding for recovery must be part of the new climate finance deal."
"This agreement is critical for everyone's future. It will define how much support low-income countries have to transition to renewable energy and thus how quickly we can reduce emissions globally. It will also define whether countries with little emissions, but who are experiencing the most devastating impacts, like those in the Pacific, are pushed into debt and instability or supported to cope with climate change impacts.
ActionAid Australia Executive Director, Michelle Higelin, said:
"We are calling on Minister Bowen to redouble his efforts and ensure Australia is doing all that it can to deliver the US$1 trillion climate finance goal that the world needs.
Women across the Pacific are battling the daily realities of a heating planet – more frequent and severe storms, floods and rising seas. They urgently need funding to recover and rebuild when disasters hit, but Australia and other rich countries are refusing to include loss and damage in the new climate finance goal.
We are calling on Australia to show real leadership in the final days of COP29 – an ambitious climate finance goal will make or break COP29. The stakes could not be higher for women and their communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis. If Australia wants to be a climate leader on the global stage, now is the opportunity."
Senior Torres Strait Islander Elder, community advocate, and former Queensland Senior Australian of the Year, Dr Aunty McRose Elu, said:
"The Australian Government has given our island communities in Australia and across the Pacific a death sentence. While they give billions of dollars to help fossil fuel companies destroy our planet, our islands are sinking and it's hurting us right now.
Our Government not only needs to pay for the loss and damages it is causing our Brothers and Sisters in the Pacific, but it also needs to pay for the devastation it is causing in its own backyard.
If we walk together in one spirit, one mind, one strength and wisdom, we will find a way forward together. I'm confident that is how we will get there."
