Block of 6 Pacific Countries Commit to Spearhead Global Fossil Fuel Phase-out Effort
Pacific Island governments committed to create a “Fossil Fuel Free Pacific” and called for all countries to join them in managing a global, equitable, and unqualified phase out of coal, oil and gas.
This commitment comes after the Vanuatu and Tuvalu hosted the 2nd Pacific Ministerial Dialogue on Pathways for the Global Just Transition from Fossil Fuels in Port-Vila, Vanuatu, during a state of emergency after the country was hit by two severe cyclones and an earthquake in 48 hours.
At the close of the three-day meeting, Ministers and officials from a block of six Pacific countries – Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Tonga, Fiji, Niue, and the Solomon Islands – agreed on an outcome resolution, named the “Port Vila Call for a Just Transition to a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific” that calls for action from Pacific and global leaders to:
■ Adopt a Pacific Island Forum Leaders Declaration for a just transition to a “Fossil Fuel Free Pacific” as soon as possible
■ Spearhead the global phase out of coal, oil and gas production in line with global temperature goal of below 1.5ºC, including at the UN Secretary General’s climate summit in September, at COP28, and beyond
■ Join the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance and urge major producers to join
■ Call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and lead the creation of a global alliance to negotiate a new Treaty to govern the end to fossil fuel expansion, equitable phase oil and gas out of fossil fuels, and a global just transition.
■ Redouble efforts to reaffirm, strengthen and codify legal obligations with respect to the global phase out of fossil fuels, including through calling for all nations to support the adoption of the Pacific’s UN General Assembly Resolution seeking an advisory opinion on climate change from the International Court of Justice
■ Avoid terminology such as “unabated” or “inefficient” that creates loopholes for fossil fuel producers and polluters.
Pacific Island nations bear almost no historical responsibility for the climate crisis, yet are acutely vulnerable to rising sea levels and extreme weather as climate impacts increase in frequency and severity. The joint call for an equitable global phase-out of fossil fuels and just transition cements the Pacific governments’ ongoing leadership for limiting warming to 1.5ºC.
This policy leadership has been displayed through Pacific governments leading recent international initiatives including the push for an advisory opinion on climate change from the International Court of Justice, the development of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and Tuvalu’s recent joining of the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance as a core member.