Pacific nations demand climate accountability, says Tabuya

Pacific nations are no longer appealing for climate action out of sympathy but are demanding accountability under international law, says Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya.

Speaking at the Pacific Climate Justice and Sea Level Rise Conference at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat yesterday, Ms Tabuya said the Pacific was not only on the frontline of the climate crisis, but was also helping shape the global fight for climate justice.

“We are not here to beg for sympathy. We are here to demand accountability. The Pacific has moved from making moral appeals to asserting our legal rights on the world stage,” Ms Tabuya said.

She said communities across Fiji were already experiencing the devastating impacts of climate change through rising sea levels, coastal erosion, flooding, changing rainfall patterns and threats to food security and livelihoods.

Ms Tabuya also referred to her recent visits to relocation sites and vulnerable communities in Vanua Levu and maritime areas, saying the resilience shown by affected families should not hide the seriousness of the crisis.

“Their strength does not diminish the urgency of what is happening to them,” she said.

Ms Tabuya said Fiji could face significant economic losses from sea level rise if urgent global interventions were not made.

“Farmers are dealing with changing rainfall patterns, increased temperatures and reduced crop yields, while fishing communities are returning home with fewer catches,” she said.

Despite the growing challenges, the Minister said Fiji continued to strengthen its climate commitments through its Nationally Determined Contributions and implementation of the Climate Change Act.

She said Pacific nations still required greater access to climate finance, emerging technologies, stronger partnerships and support for adaptation projects.

A major focus of the address was the recent United Nations resolution supporting the International Court of Justice advisory opinion on climate change.

The Minister described the resolution as a historic achievement for the Pacific, driven by years of advocacy from Pacific leaders and youth movements.

She said the decision reinforced that countries had legal obligations to prevent climate harm, protect human rights and safeguard vulnerable communities.

“For vulnerable communities, climate justice is no longer just a moral issue; it is now a legal duty,” she said.

The Minister also acknowledged the leadership of Vanuatu and Pacific youth advocates in pushing the climate justice campaign onto the global stage.

“We have the power to use national laws, regional strategies and collective voices to maintain momentum and secure tangible and immediate results,” she said.

Ms Tabuya said the international community must move beyond political processes and self-interest and instead prioritise people and urgent climate action.

“As we enter a new era, we must recognise both the challenges and opportunities before us,” she said.