Pacific negotiators going into this week’s ministerials are fighting an uphill battle against Goliath-like nations that are stalling for time and continuing to block the climate action needed for our survival.

Pacific Climate Warrior member and Pacific managing director 350.org, Joseph Sikulu, said keeping global heating below 1.5 degrees Celsius was non-negotiable for the Pacific.

“We refuse to let up the pressure on global leaders at COP27 because this is a matter of survival for our islands,” he said.

“It is appalling that the leaders of wealthy nations present at COP27 ignore these realities and ignore the clear science of climate breakdown.”

He said the Pacific was facing the increasingly devastating impacts of climate change – tropical cyclones are more frequent, ocean temperatures threaten marine ecosystems and rising sea levels are eating up shorelines.

“But we are not yet defeated. We march for climate justice, for human rights justice and to lift up the voices and demands of frontline communities in the Pacific and the rest of the world. We are not drowning, we are fighting.”

PROTEST CONTINUES AT COP27

With the statement “we are not yet defeated” hundreds of youths stormed the COP27 venue on Saturday to make it clear that civil society organisations would not give up in defending their demands.

Environmental NGOs, women and gender constituency, indigenous peoples organisations, children and youth NGOs joined the COP27 coalition on Global Day of Action to organise the march that took place within the Blue Zone of the conference venue.

Pacific climate activists at COP27 were also joined by the Pacific Climate Warriors in Fiji and Australia, standing in solidarity with activists in Sharm El-Sheikh and demanding that wealthy nations move beyond their addiction to fossil fuels.

Story by: inoke.rabonu@fijisun.com.fj