Kiribati weighs in on discussions at COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Photo credit: SPREP.
Inclusive participation and respect for indigenous wisdom is essential to amplify the voices of vulnerable communities on the front lines of the climate crisis.
Kiribati, a low-lying atoll nation hit hard by the impacts of climate change, reinforced this message at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Speaking to world leaders during the resumed high-level segment of COP29 this week, HE David Ateti Teaabo, Ambassador of the Republic of Kiribati to the People’s Republic of China, says parties must be united by the urgent responsibility to address the climate crisis.
He says it is the defining security threat of our time.
“Our struggle is not solely for survival; it is also for the preservation of our culture and future generations,” Ambassador Teaabo says.
“The scientific consensus is clear: limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is vital.
“We call upon developed nations to lead in mobilising public climate finance, and emphasise the need to integrate indigenous knowledge, which have long fortified our resilience, to be respected and reflected in financial frameworks.
“Let us commit to climate justice, innovation, and the respect of indigenous wisdom.”
For Kiribati, who contributes minimal to global emissions, Ambassador Teaabo says climate change is not an abstract challenge.
“Climate change for us is a daily reality.
“Rising seas and intensifying natural disasters threaten our homes, our livelihoods, and our very way of life.”
He adds, Kiribati’s key message to COP29 is very clear: keeping 1.5 degrees alive and keeping our climate resilience sustainable.
At COP29, Kiribati is among Pacific delegations raising their voice to advocate the Pacific’s positions and messaging on priority thematic areas including Finance (New Collective Quantified Goal – NCQG), Mitigation, Just Transition, Adaptation, Finance, Article 6, Oceans and Climate Change, Loss and Damage, Global Stocktake (GST) and Gender and Social Inclusion.
The two-week climate change negotiations is the latest crucial step in tackling the climate crisis with urgency and ambition.
Kiribati acknowledges the importance of the 100 billion US dollars annual Climate Finance Commitment to support developing nations, particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
“However, while this pledge is a critical step toward addressing our unique vulnerabilities, it falls far short of meeting the scale of the challenges we face.
“The NCQG on Climate Finance must be predictable and accessible.
“For us, this funding is crucial to strengthen coastal defences, secure freshwater resources, and build resilient infrastructure.”
Addressing loss and damage to counter the impacts beyond what adaptation alone can manage is another key ask for Kiribati.
“Transparency, accountability, and regular reviews of the NCQG are fundamental to ensure it meets the evolving needs for our resilient infrastructure including roads, wharves, jetties, causeways and airfields,” the Ambassador says.
“The time to act is now, for our planet and all its people.”
The COP29 concludes on November 22.
