Rich Polluters, Poor Victims: Focusing on the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable nations.

ON November 13, 2024, ActionAid to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the COP29 Leaders’ Summit of Small Island Developing States on Climate Change in Baku.

Flora Vano, Country Program Manager for ActionAid Vanuatu, urged world leaders to remember the millions living in small island states like Vanuatu, who bear the brunt of climate inaction.

“The recognition by the UN of the existential threats that our islands face due to the climate crisis is welcome. Sadly, at this COP, the rich polluting countries continue to evade their moral and historical obligation to pay up the finance we urgently need to cope with the climate crisis.  

“I implore world leaders to remember that the fate of millions of people living in small Island states such as Vanuatu, who are paying the price for years of climate inaction, depends on the outcome of COP29. In the last year alone, our country has experienced twin cyclones over 48 hours and an out of season cyclone which devastated our livelihoods.  

“We have not fully recovered from last year’s extreme weather events and are faced with more cyclones before we have had a chance to rebuild and recover. 

Climate disasters are pushing us to the brink, and any further delays in unlocking adequate climate finance could spell a point of no return for us.

“We need the new climate finance goal to have a sub-goal for loss and damage and be made accessible for local communities, including women-led organisations who are on the frontlines of this crisis and leading on climate solutions.” 

Michelle Higelin, Executive Director of ActionAid International added, “It is an injustice that Pacific Island countries that have contributed almost nothing to the climate crisis are being severely impacted to the extent of threats on their very existence. We cannot allow this to continue.  

“Rich polluting countries including Australia must embrace their moral obligation and make a clear commitment to provide at least USD 1 trillion in climate grants under the new climate finance goal. 

“A failure to provide this funding would be yet another stab in the back for our Pacific neighbours who have been let down for so long.”