Pacific Call to Action
on Climate Justice

Background

Climate change remains to be the single greatest threat to the Pacific people’s livelihood, security, and wellbeing, and has over the years exacerbated other development challenges. In 2015, the global community agreed to limit warming to 1.5 degrees but have not lived up to this promise. Commitments continue to be insufficient to meet the 1.5-degree goal that was agreed to in Paris that will give the Pacific a chance to survive. The recent published National Determined Contributions Synthesis Report1 captured the national climate plans of 75 parties of the Paris Agreement, representing 30% of the global greenhouse gas emissions has a combined impact to achieve a reduction of 1% by 2030, and is far from putting the world on a pathway to meet the Paris goals.

In the Pacific, communities are at the frontline, experiencing and battling the adverse impacts of the climate crisis, an issue that they have little to contribute to. Further at the peripheries are marginalized and/or vulnerable groups, such as the indigenous people, youth, people with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientation, gender identities and expressions [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenders & Intersex], and elderly people who disproportionately have to live with the impact of climate crisis, often undermining the full enjoyment of their human rights, and driving further economic and social inequalities, including gender inequality.

With the theme “The Rising Tide: A United Pacific for Climate Justice”, the event brought together a wide range of key actors from national governments, civil society, faith communities, development partners and communities with the primary objective of solidifying a strong human rights and climate justice policy positions in lead up to COP 262.

The summit provided an opportunity to enhance understanding on intersectional climate justice and provided a platform for exchange of knowledge and experience among the key actors in the region.

Objectives

The Summit aimed to:

• Enhance regional understanding of the relationship between climate change and human rights.

• Provide a platform for dialogue, knowledge, information, and experience sharing on policy, advocacy, and practice in the context of climate change and human rights.

• Identify key challenges, learnings, and opportunities, in the context of human rights and climate justice policy influencing and climate negotiations.

• Provide an overview on the impact of climate change on vulnerable community members, including women & girls, persons with disabilities and identify inclusive climate adaptation and climate mitigation policies.

• Garner greater awareness and visibility of PICAN members programmes leading to greater appreciation and advocacy of human rights and climate justice issues.

• Identify priorities in the Summit that will create a strong foundation for partnerships with key stakeholders, development partners, government, and civil society organizations to promote human rights & climate justice.