Samoa's UN envoy stresses COP29 as key moment to protect planet's future

As the world grapples with the escalating challenges posed by climate change, the upcoming COP29 climate conference in Baku is being heralded as a pivotal moment for global action.

Pa'olelei Luteru, Samoa's Permanent Representative to the UN, argues that this conference represents not only a chance to protect small island developing states but also to secure the planet's future.

In his recent article published in a British publication, Luteru emphasizes the critical importance of climate finance in addressing the existential threats faced by these vulnerable nations and calls on the international community to act decisively, Caliber.Az reports referring to local media sources.

“Without effective finance, efforts to adapt and mitigate [climate] impacts will fall short and compensation for damages will be incomplete. Financial flows are key to keeping global temperature rise below the critical 1.5°C threshold. If funding is not secured, we risk being off track and the damage could become irreversible. It is disappointing that there is still no rush to achieve the New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) on climate finance, an important part of the Paris Agreement,” Luteru stated.

He further emphasized that the world’s least developed countries and island nations have shown greater commitment to the climate agenda compared to major world powers, which, instead of financing climate initiatives, find endless resources to sustain military conflicts.

“At this year's conference [COP29 in Baku], we call on the international community to commit to a climate finance agreement that will provide trillions of dollars. It should take into account the special circumstances of the most vulnerable countries, in line with the provisions of the Paris Agreement. A credible financial target will realize the many promises and protections contained in Article Nine of the Paris Agreement. It will provide the acceleration needed to close implementation gaps. Small Island Developing States are paying the consequences of large countries,” emphasized Samoa's Permanent Representative to the UN.

He also warned that unprecedented consequences await larger countries while highlighting the urgent need to seize the critical opportunity at COP29 to ensure a decent life for all and protect small island developing states.

By Tamilla Hasanova