Pacific Island Nations face rising seas and accelerated extreme weather disasters. At 2024's COP29 in Azerbaijan, Pacific Island Nations called on the global community to stand with them in the fight for climate justice and demand urgent and ambitious climate action. They say developed nations must be held legally accountable for their role in causing the climate crisis and consequences in the Pacific. Australia is lobbying to co-host COP31 in 2026 with Pacific Nations, however our government's integrity is at stake when it promotes climate credentials while continuing to approve coal and gas projects. 

Background and context:

Australia is lobbying to co-host COP31 in 2026 with Pacific Nations, however these nations claim Australia was “not acting in good faith” when it stood alongside Pacific leaders on the global stage and promoted its climate credentials while continuing to approve coal and gas projects. 

They criticised Australia’s plans for a massive gas industry expansion in Western Australia, saying the Australian government is exporting climate destruction overseas to nations that are experiencing the most devastating impacts of the climate crisis, despite contributing the least. The Tuvalu Prime Minister claimed fossil fuel expansions were a “death sentence” for Pacific Nations.

In addition, the International Court of Justice is hearing a landmark case in late 2024, begun by Vanuatu students on the obligations of states to protect the climate from greenhouse gases.

Australia is now second only to Russia based on emissions from its fossil fuel exports and has the largest pipeline of coal export projects in the world – 61% of the world’s total.

Pacific islanders are guardians of vast lands and oceans, rich with life and wisdom, traditional knowledge, a deep understanding of ecosystems and a longstanding practice of living in balance with nature. Much has been taken from them by colonising nations: fisheries, minerals, and resources to fuel the world. Their lands are now threatened by rising sea levels, natural disasters, ecosystem depletion, increased heat-induced health impacts, and damage to cultural heritage. 

At the 2024 COP29 in Azerbaijan, Pacific Island Nations called on the global community to stand with them in the fight for climate justice and demand urgent and ambitious climate action with demands including:

• Developed nations must be held legally accountable for their role in causing the climate crisis and consequences in the Pacific through a legacy of colonisation and exploitation.
• Climate action must be grounded in binding human rights obligations and be accountable to the most vulnerable.
• Developed nations must pay massively increased grants (not loans) to the Loss and Damage Fund for locally-led climate mitigation and the building of resilient, prosperous communities.
• Vulnerable nations must have direct access to climate finance and control of spending without interference from 'gatekeepers' and powerful intermediaries.
• All new fossil fuel projects must be immediately halted, and developed nations must lead rapid phase-outs of existing projects.
• The rejection of false solutions like carbon trading and offsets, geoengineering, and gas.
• A just and fast transition to renewable energy fully supported by finance, technology, and capacity-building for developing nations, so no one is left behind. 
• A rapid transition away from exploitative practices and towards systems that respect planetary boundaries and prioritize the health of all ecosystems.
• A commitment to protect ocean health and biodiversity as part of the solution.

Why is this important?

• Limiting global heating to 1.5°C is essential for Pacific communities that are facing rising seas and accelerated extreme weather disasters.
• Pacific islanders suffer fear, anxiety, and uncertainty about their future as they bear the brunt of climate devastation.
• Pacific Islands are at great risk of climate disasters and need the global community to fulfil their responsibilities. Australia needs to play a stronger supporting role.

Desired outcomes: 

• The Australian government must legislate an immediate stop to all new fossil fuel projects and a rapid phase-out of existing fossil fuel projects.
• Australia must step up and lead real climate action and mitigation for our Pacific neighbours.

Who to contact: 

• Your local Federal MPs (check on this website if you’re unsure who that is)
• Key Federal Labor (addresses in link) including Resources Minister Madeleine King, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese; Treasurer Jim Chalmers; Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen; Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt; Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell
• Federal Senate Crossbenchers (addresses in link) including Greens, David Pocock (ACT independent), Jacquie Lambie (JLN) and Tammy Tyrell, who hold the balance of power in the Senate

Actions you can take:

1. Email your MP or relevant Ministers

If you need some help getting started with your email, here is an example. 

Please don’t copy it exactly - personalise it and tailor it to the MP you are writing to. 

In addition, when writing to a Minister or Shadow Minister, start by saying that you’re writing to them in their role as Minister for xxxx, otherwise they will probably just forward your email to your local MP.

[MP name]

[Member for …. or  Minister for ….]

Dear …

[Include a personal statement - who you are and why you care]

As some of our closest and most vulnerable neighbours, Pacific Island Nations deserve much more help from Australia with climate action and mitigation. Pacific islanders suffer fear, anxiety, and uncertainty about their future as they bear the brunt of climate devastation. They are facing rising seas and accelerated extreme weather disasters, and need massive help to literally keep their heads above water.

I am extremely disappointed that despite government rhetoric, Australia continues to approve and expand fossil fuel projects. Our great nation is now second only to Russia based on emissions from its fossil fuel exports, and has the largest pipeline of coal export projects in the world – 61% of the world’s total! 

If Australia wants to co-host COP31 with our Pacific neighbours we need to stop contributing to their destruction.

Will you please advocate to your party’s policy makers:

• An immediate stop to all new fossil fuel projects and a rapid phase-out of existing fossil fuel projects.
• Increased Australian government climate action, mitigation and aid for our Pacific neighbours.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely

Name

Address

Phone 

[required if you want a response] 

Hi, my name is ….. and I’m a voter in [your electorate].

I’d like to speak to …..[name of MP]

(Staffer will probably say: I’m sorry they’re not available, can I take a message?)

Yes, thank you! Would you please pass on my message and tell them I’m worried about…. (use points from the briefing above)

And ask them to …. (see desired outcomes above)

Thank you!

Climate change and displacement of people

Climate change is increasingly being linked to human mobility and displacement, as rising seas, extreme weather events, droughts, and heatwaves make some areas difficult or impossible to inhabit. The United Nations have identified 22 countries of highest concern for increased climate migration by 2030. Many of these are low-income, climate vulnerable nations with limited capacity to adapt. Closer to home, in 2023, the Government created a new visa pathway specifically for citizens of Tuvalu, a small and low-lying Pacific Island nation facing severe sea level rise. This marked one of the first formal recognitions of climate displacement through migration policy.