TL/DR –
So Antonio Guterres just told the big polluters to stop playing games with our planet and start cutting emissions before we all get washed away — he’s not wrong. The Pacific Islands are basically the world’s climate punching bag, facing rising sea levels, acidifying oceans, and warming waters, all thanks to the greenhouse gases from our fossil fuel addiction. And while the folks in charge are busy talking, Pacific Islanders are over here saying, “We are not drowning, we are fighting.” If that’s not resilience, I don’t know what is.
“The Pacific is today the most vulnerable area of the world,” he told the BBC at the Pacific Island Forum Meeting in Tonga. “There is an enormous injustice in relation to the Pacific and it’s the reason I am here.”
“The small islands don’t contribute to climate change but everything that happens because of climate change is multiplied here.”
But eventually the “surging seas are coming for us all,” he warned as the UN releases reports on rising sea levels threatening Pacific islands.
The World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Climate in the South West Pacific says this region faces a triple whammy: rising sea levels, ocean warming, and acidification.
“Greenhouse gases – overwhelmingly generated by burning fossil fuels – are cooking our planet,” Mr. Guterres said.
This year’s theme – transformative resilience – was tested by heavy rains and an earthquake on the forum’s opening day.
“It’s a stark reminder of how volatile things are and why we need to prepare for everything,” Joseph Sikulu, Pacific director at 350, told the BBC.
During a street parade, dancers represented the region, including Torres Strait islanders, Tongans, and Samoans. Banners read: “We are not drowning, we are fighting” and “Sea levels are rising – so are we”.
The UN Climate Action Team’s report, Surging Seas in a Warming World, shows global sea levels rising at unprecedented rates over the past 3,000 years.
According to the report, levels have risen an average of 9.4cm (3.7in) in the past 30 years, with the tropical Pacific seeing up to 15cm.
“It’s important for leaders, especially Australia and Aotearoa, to witness the challenges and resilience of our people,” Mr. Sikulu said.
“A core part of Tongan culture is our ability to be joyful throughout adversity, and that’s how we practice our resilience.”
This is the second time Secretary-General Guterres has attended the Pacific Islands Forum, gathering leaders from 18 Pacific Islands, including Australia and New Zealand.
Heavy rain and a magnitude 6.9 earthquake during the opening ceremony showcased the region’s vulnerability.
In 2019, Mr. Guterres alarmed about rising sea levels in Tuvalu. Five years later, he notes significant changes.
“We see an enormous commitment to resist and reduce the negative impact of climate change,” he said.
Mr. Guterres visited local communities whose livelihoods are threatened by rising sea levels. They’ve waited seven years for a sea wall funding decision.
Original Story at www.bbc.com
