Pacific youth push for stronger climate accountability

Pacific youth opened a three-part climate talanoa series in Suva today, declaring they will no longer wait for outside direction as they prepare to take a unified regional voice to COP31 later this year.

The Pacific Youth Talanoa Series began at Pasifika Communities University, bringing together young people from across the region both in person and online for the first of three sessions running through to August.

Pacific Youth Council Coordinator Miliana Iga said the series was about grounding youth voices in Pacific realities before taking them to the global stage.

"We're not going to wait for anyone to come and dictate that for us," Ms Iga said.

The series is co-led by the Pacific Youth Council and the United Nations, with Australia co-chairing COP31 on behalf of the Pacific.

COP31 — the United Nations Climate Change Conference — is where world governments negotiate global climate policy.

Bidisha Pillai, Director and Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for Pacific Island Countries, said Pacific youth had already demonstrated their ability to influence global outcomes.

Ms Pillai pointed to a recent United Nations General Assembly resolution holding states legally accountable for climate obligations, a process she said was driven by Pacific youth advocacy.

"You are actively shaping the agenda, you're demanding loss and damage accountability, and you're ensuring that negotiators never forget the human faces behind the statistics," Ms Pillai said.

She confirmed the UN intended the talanoa series to continue beyond this year.

"We really look forward to doing this as a series of events ahead of every COP meeting," she said.

The series will produce a Pacific Youth Statement to be presented at pre-COP regional meetings and, if possible, at COP31 in Turkey later this year.

Sessions two and three are scheduled for July and August.

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