COP29: A Pivotal Moment to Secure the Pacific's Future

This year has seen record-breaking temperatures, catastrophic disasters, and escalating conflicts, all of which disproportionately impact vulnerable regions like the Pacific.

Despite contributing the least to global climate change, Pacific nations are among the hardest hit. Rising sea levels pose existential threats to low-lying islands, while ocean acidification, biodiversity loss, and disrupted food systems jeopardize the livelihoods of Pacific islanders, whose cultures and economies are deeply intertwined with the ocean. Meanwhile, global conflicts siphon away crucial resources needed to finance sustainable development and address the pressing climate crisis.

Yet, these challenges only underscore the enduring relevance of theSustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Adopted by global leaders in 2015, the SDGs provide a comprehensive blueprint for addressing these issues. However, according to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Pacific is not on track to meet these goals by 2030. In fact, projections suggest that without significant change, the SDGs might not be realized in the Pacific until 2065. Geographic isolation, resource limitations, and the impacts of climate change and economic instability all contribute to this delay.

To secure the Pacific’s future, we must first rescue the SDGs. 

This year, key global intergovernmental meetings have reaffirmed commitments to these goals. For example, the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4), held in May 2024 in Antigua and Barbuda, adopted the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), a 10-year action plan aimed at achieving sustainable development for SIDS. Samoa, as Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), played a key role in shaping this agenda.

The UN’s commitment to the Pacific was reinforced by the historic visit of Secretary-General António Guterres to Samoa in August which was followed by his attendance at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders' Meeting in Tonga. This visit marked a significant gesture of solidarity, as the Secretary-General witnessed firsthand the devastating impacts of climate change on Pacific communities. From rising sea levels to more frequent cyclones, his engagement emphasized the urgency of global climate action and the UN’s dedication to supporting the Pacific in navigating these challenges and accelerating SDGs progress.

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Samoa successfully hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the first Pacific small island state to do so. The discussions at CHOGM focus on strengthening democratic institutions, fostering environmental resilience, promoting economic recovery, and empowering societies, especially women and youth, to live peaceful and productive lives. The issues at the heart of these discussions are critical for small island nations like Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau. With the Commonwealth representing a third of the global population, Samoa’s leadership in driving climate action across these nations offers a unique opportunity to transform the vision of a resilient, food-secure, and SDG-achieving world into reality.

Further momentum came in September when the UN General Assembly adopted the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations, groundbreaking frameworks to help the international community deliver on the SDGs and ensure that the UN system remains fit to meet today’s challenges.

The UN’s achievements through its Cooperation Framework for the Pacific have notably accelerated development in small island nations, aligning with regional and global agendas, including the Pact for the Future, the ABAS, the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

With support from the Joint SDG Fund, the joint efforts of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UN Development Programme (UNDP) have enabled critical development milestones for the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau. 

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Key achievements include the launch of the Cook Islands National Digital Strategy which advances digital infrastructure and innovation aligned with the region’s 2050 Strategy. In Tokelau, the UN’s partnership led to the creation of a Blue Economy Roadmap, ensuring sustainable management of marine resources through 2030. Additionally, in Niue the UN backed food-based dietary guidelines and an e-agriculture strategy to address food security and non-communicable diseases. 

With strengthened international support, the UN’s work in the Pacific will continue to drive meaningful change, helping countries such as the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, and Tokelau accelerate progress toward the SDGs, implement ABAS and meet their national and regional priorities.

Building on these achievements, COP29 serves as a pivotal moment for the Pacific and presents a crucial opportunity to unlock the opportunities ahead.

The decisions made and the actions taken in Baku will have far-reaching consequences for the Pacific region’s ability to achieve the SDGs, adapt to climate change, and secure a sustainable future for generations to come. It is a moment to translate commitments into action, solidarity into solutions, and challenges into opportunities. 

This blog was written by Mr. Themba Kalua, the Resident Coordinator for the Samoa Multi-Country Office covering Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau. To learn more about the wor of the UN in the Pacific visit samoa.un.org.