PM WALE CALLS FOR MAJOR EMITTERS TO TAKE GREATER CLIMATE RESPONSIBILITY
Prime Minister Hon. Matthew Wale has called for stronger political action and accountability from major greenhouse gas emitters.
The Prime Minister warned that climate change is already an existential threat to Solomon Islands and Pacific Island countries.
Prime Minister Wale raised the issue during a meeting with the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed on the margins of Pre-COP31 in Nadi.
He stressed the urgent need for concrete action to keep the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal alive.
The Prime Minister called for greater accountability from major emitters, including the G7, G20, BRICS and emerging economies, proposing research into historical and current emissions to inform mechanisms based on the polluter-pays principle.
Prime Minister Wale also highlighted what he described as a fundamental imbalance.
“The Pacific Ocean serves as a major carbon sink, removing carbon from the atmosphere and providing a global environmental service, while major emitters continue to benefit from this natural function without adequately compensating vulnerable Pacific countries,” he said.
He questioned whether the current UNFCCC process provides sufficient pathways to address historical emissions and hold major emitters accountable.
Prime Minister Wale urged greater political-level engagement with the G7, G20 and BRICS, particularly on fossil fuel subsidies and continued investment in fossil fuels.
The UN Deputy Secretary-General acknowledged the need for engagement with major political groupings and highlighted the potential of multilateral development banks, including the IMF and World Bank, to help drive change where political will and capital are available.
Prime Minister Wale also advocated for wider adoption of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index to guide access to development and climate finance for Small Island Developing States, including grants and concessional financing.
The UN Deputy Secretary General acknowledged the lack of progress on global climate ambition and the need for stronger action ahead of COP31.
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