Palau is actively participating in the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, alongside its counterparts in the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). As the current Chair of AOSIS, Palau leads a coalition of 39 small island and low-lying coastal nations, all of which are advocating for global climate measures aimed at ensuring the survival and resilience of vulnerable island communities.
At COP30, AOSIS is emphasizing the critical need to return to the 1.5°C global warming target, which is central to global climate action. The alliance is calling on countries to fulfill their commitments under the Paris Agreement, stressing the importance of submitting new 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that are aligned with the findings of the first Global Stocktake (GST) conducted in 2023. This alignment is deemed necessary to close the global ambition and implementation gap.
Furthermore, AOSIS is focused on advancing the Global Goal on Adaptation, ensuring that nations have the necessary support and capabilities to enhance their resilience to climate impacts. The coalition is advocating for increased concessional finance to manage adaptation needs and address loss and damage without exacerbating debt levels. AOSIS is also dedicated to ensuring that climate action promotes a Just Transition, fostering fair and inclusive development.
Palau asserts the need for climate finance that is easily accessible, prioritized as grants instead of loans, in order to bolster national and community resilience. This call resonates within AOSIS, which is pushing for more predictable and strengthened support for the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage to assist communities facing the immediate effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events.
With COP30 being held in the Amazon region, AOSIS is raising awareness about the collective responsibility to protect biodiversity. Protecting healthy oceans, cultural heritage, and sustainable livelihoods remain a priority for island nations, particularly in the context of ensuring that efforts to combat climate change are effectively supported by larger nations.
Palau’s engagement at COP30 supports its ongoing national initiatives under the Palau Climate Change Policy, the National Adaptation Plan, and its own NDC, alongside broader climate resilience strategies. These strategies encompass efforts to enhance coastal protection, ensure water security, promote renewable energy development, and preserve historical sites. Participation in COP30 is seen as an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and mobilize resources to support community-based resilience across Palau.
As the conference progresses, there is cautious optimism that the outcomes will facilitate a shift from planning to implementation, shaping the support that vulnerable nations like Palau will receive in the coming decade. The commitment of Palau and AOSIS in pushing for equity, responsibility, and enhancing the well-being of island communities reflects a united front in the fight against climate change, underscoring the need for global solidarity in addressing this pressing issue.