Pacific declaration urges end to age of fossil fuels
Carbon capture and storage, geoengineering and other technologies that justify continued fossil fuel production have been condemned by Pacific nations in a historic declaration.
Following talks in Port Vila, ministers and senior officials reiterated their support for an urgent phase-out of fossil fuels and moving Pacific economies to 100 percent renewable energy.
The Tassiriki Call consolidates messages from Pacific island states ahead of the inaugural international conference on phasing out fossil fuels, to be held in Colombia in late April.
Pacific island nations are vulnerable to sea level rise and extreme weather triggered by climate change, and have led international diplomacy on limiting temperature rise for decades.
The region is also heavily dependent on imported liquid fuels for energy production and transportation, and was hit hard by the recent oil shock caused by the war in the Middle East.
Ministers and officials from Tuvalu, Samoa, Fiji, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Vanuatu have signed the Tassiriki Call for a Fossil Fuel-Free Pacific.
Calling on countries to commit to a clear and time-bound process for negotiating a fossil fuel agreement is a key demand of the group.
The declaration also commits to using international law strategically to target fossil fuel production and subsidies, following a groundbreaking opinion by the International Court of Justice on climate change.
In the opinion, judges at the world’s highest court said fossil fuel production could constitute “an act contrary to international law.”
Carbon capture and storage, carbon offsetting and geoengineering have also been identified as highly concerning and at risk of “diverting finance, political attention and time away from proven pathways compatible with the 1.5C limit.”
Tuvalu’s minister of interior, environment and climate change, Maina Talia, said the declaration marks the next stage in a fossil fuel-free future.
“This sets a clear direction for our united coalition of countries ready to secure a rapid, fair and financed transition away from coal, oil and gas production,” Dr Talia said.
Vanuatu’s climate change, adaptation, meteorology and geohazards and Energy Minister Ralph Regenvanu said the Tassiriki Call was “a blueprint for survival and prosperity”.
“This is a unified message from the front lines of the climate crisis: The age of fossil fuels must end.”
Australia is taking on a new negotiating role in the next round of international climate talks in Türkiye, where Fiji and Tuvalu will hold pre-COP31 meetings.
At COP30 in Brazil, Australia signed the Belem Declaration, signaling support for the fossil fuel transition roadmap.
Australia remains a major exporter of fossil fuels as it pursues a rapid renewable energy transition and sets ambitious climate targets.
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