Climate Action urged at COP29 as Island states highlight need for global support

The ongoing climate crisis continues to be a central focus at COP29, with leaders from vulnerable regions stressing the need for urgent and decisive action to mitigate the devastating impacts of climate change.

Fatafehi Fakafānua, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, delivered a stark warning at a parliamentary meeting, stating that the global climate situation would continue to worsen unless concrete steps are taken immediately, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

He emphasized that significant financial and technical support is needed to reduce the adverse effects of climate change, particularly for small island nations, which are among the most vulnerable.

“We are on the cusp of a global temperature rise above 1.5 degrees Celsius. Unless urgent and decisive action is taken, temperatures could rise by 3 degrees,” Fakafānua said.

He called on legislatures around the world to take action, highlighting the dire situation in small island states where adaptation to climate change has been slow. “We are taking measures to make life easier for people, but there is a shortage of funding,” he added, urging the global community to step up its efforts to assist these nations.

Similarly, Konris Maynard, Minister of Information, Communications, and Technology for the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, echoed these concerns, emphasizing that while Caribbean island nations contribute less than 1 per cent of global emissions, they are suffering the brunt of the damage.

Speaking at a high-level roundtable at COP29, Maynard highlighted how the Caribbean’s small carbon footprint has not spared it from the destructive impacts of global emissions.

“We are working through energy efficiency, green digitalization, and new technologies to create more sustainable processes. Building digital infrastructure will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Maynard said.

He also discussed the Declaration on Green Digital Action, which aims to foster cooperation, knowledge sharing, and strengthen economic sustainability.

“This declaration will not only increase awareness but also help strengthen our efforts toward economic resilience in the face of climate change,” he stated.

By Vafa Guliyeva