As we approach COP26, all nations of the world need to hear and act on the voices from the Blue Pacific Continent for urgent and ambitious climate change action.
On the 6th of October Climate Reality hosted an online forum for Pacific voices to be heard in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific—and the world—for ambitious climate commitments at the Glasgow COP 26 climate negotiations.
The forum featured former U.S Vice President, Hon Al Gore; Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Hon Henry Puna; Fiji Prime Minister and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Hon Frank Bainimarama; and other prominent government and civil society leaders for this Blue Pacific to Glasgow Forum.
Key speakers explored the needed outcomes from the critical COP26 negotiations in Glasgow this November to secure a safe and prosperous climate.
We now call on you to hear and act on Pacific Voices for urgent climate action. Please visit the resource hub to access informative fact sheets and social media tiles that will empower you to drive ambitious climate action at COP26.
In the words of Al Gore: “We need your voices to continue sounding the alarm for the Blue Pacific”.
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Click the button below to watch the full recording of the Blue Pacific to Glasgow Forum.
Climate Change in the Blue Pacific
The Blue Pacific Continent covers more than one third of the earth's surface and is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Sea level rise, extreme weather, and warming oceans present great challenges to the well-being and survival of people, nations, economies, and the diverse ecosystems of the region.
Many of the Pacific nations have contributed the least to climate change and yet are experiencing some of the severest impacts.
Tackling the climate crisis presents opportunities to secure our future, improve well-being, build on the resilience of communities, and develop clean economies for the Blue Pacific Continent.
In the words of the Hon Henry Puna, Secretary General, Pacific Islands Forum:
"To all world leaders … now is the time for action".
Program
The two-hour virtual forum will bring together governmental and civil society leaders to explore two fundamental questions:
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What agreements are needed from the critical COP26 negotiations to secure a safe and healthy climate?
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What commitments do Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Nations need to bring to COP26 to keep warming below 1.5°C?
Welcome and opening remarks
Panel discussion with Pacific government leaders
11:00 — 11:59
AEDT
Hon Henry Puna, Secretary General, Pacific Islands Forum
Hon Al Gore, Nobel Laureate, former U.S. Vice President, and Founder and Chairman,
Hon Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Fiji, Pacific Islands Forum Chair
H.E. David Kabua, President, Republic of the Marshall Islands
MC Professor Don Henry AM, Melbourne Enterprise Professor of Environmentalism,
Moderated by Hon Dr Janine Felson, Enterprise Fellow, University of Melbourne, Ambassador of Belize and Advisor to the Alliance of Small Island States and Caribbean Community
Rev. James Bhagwan, General Secretary, Pacific Conference of Churches
Kera Sherwood-O’Regan (Ngāi Tahu), Co-Founder & Impact Director, Activate Agency
Lavetanalagi Seru, Climate Justice Project Officer, Pacific Islands Climate Action Network
Okalani Mariner, Vice President & Co-founder, Lanulau'ava Student Association
Remarks and panel discussion with civil society leaders
12:00 — 12:59
AEDT
Closing comments
Musical performance by Mia Kami, Togan singer-songwriter and activist living in Fiji
Speakers
Musical Performance
Mia Kami, Togan singer-songwriter and activist living in Fiji
Background
Founded and chaired by Nobel Laureate and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, The Climate Reality Project trains people from all walks of life on the science and solutions to the climate crisis. To date, Mr Gore has trained over 36,000 individuals from 171 countries to become climate leaders. There are over 2,000 trained climate reality leaders across Australia and the Blue Pacific.
“The will to act is itself a renewable resource” Hon Al Gore
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