At COP30 taking place in Belém, Brazil, Steven Victor, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment for Palau, made a passionate appeal to global leaders to meet their climate targets and provide essential climate finance to the world’s most vulnerable nations. He labeled this conference as the “COP of Truth” for small island states, echoing Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s concerns about the urgent challenges faced by at-risk communities.
Victor stressed the critical nature of the dialogue happening at COP30, particularly for nations like Palau, whose survival is threatened by climate change. His journey across the Pacific symbolized the importance of these discussions, which could fundamentally shape the futures of coming generations, ensuring that Palau remains above water and that its natural resources are preserved.
He issued a stark warning regarding the imminent danger of surpassing the critical 1.5°C increase in global temperatures, stressing that small island nations are at a heightened risk of crossing this threshold due to the insufficient actions of developed countries. Victor pointed out that the commitments made in the Paris Agreement have largely gone unfulfilled, leaving vulnerable nations exposed to extreme climate impacts like devastating storms and the degradation of coral reefs, which are vital to the ecological and economic viability of these islands.
In his address to the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Victor highlighted the continuous struggle to maintain the 1.5°C goal amid negotiations, questioning the willingness of various countries to fulfill their binding commitments essential for global sustainability.
He recognized the significant role of the Brazilian presidency in guiding the conference and reaffirmed AOSIS’s commitment to achieving tangible outcomes, guided by scientific evidence as outlined in the Mutirão Decision.
A central theme of his remarks was the urgent need for increased climate finance. Victor expressed frustration over the consistent shortfall in the promised US$100 billion climate finance goal, which has compelled vulnerable nations to depend more heavily on their limited resources for climate adaptation, thereby worsening their economic struggles. He called for a significant boost in public and grant-based financial resources, urging that these need to rise to at least US$120 billion per year by 2030, with developing nations requiring approximately US$350 billion annually by 2035 to meet adaptation needs.
Victor implored developed nations to fulfill their legal responsibilities under the Paris Agreement, asserting that broad discussions alone will not suffice; immediate concrete action and commitments are essential during COP30. He framed climate action as a moral imperative and an urgent necessity, advocating for a unified global effort to address the climate crisis comprehensively for the benefit of future generations. Victor’s message is one of hope: with collective action and commitment, there is a path toward a sustainable future that safeguards both vulnerable nations and their vital ecosystems.