For the first time in the history of the United Nations Framework Convention on Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a Pacific Island state — Fiji — chaired an annual Conference of Parties (COP) meeting. The people on the front lines of the climate crisis chaired the international initiative to cut carbon emissions to avoid irreversible impacts, including existential threat of loss of entire nations under rising seas.
Fiji presided over COP 23 this month in Bonn in partnership with Germany, with the main purpose of beginning to put the pieces of the Paris Agreement into practice. Those most at risk of sea-level rise and extreme natural disasters helmed the contentious discussions from loss and damages, to adaptation strategies to survive.
Hawaii sent a small delegation to stand with 16 U.S. states and numerous cities under “America’s Pledge: We Are Still In.”
The Paris Agreement at COP 21 is the landmark global legislation to combat climate change with national actions to lower global temperature well below 2C toward 1.5C. Paris established principles and a process; before COP 24 in December 2018 concludes, in Poland, there must be consensus on nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
With the Trump threat to withdraw U.S. from the Paris accord, there now exists an unparalleled understanding of what must be undertaken by the world. America First foreign policy left American isolated alone, with only Syria outside of Paris, abdicating our global leadership to rivals and new allies formed on the security issue of the century.
The Talanoa Dialogue is the island touch to create the rules for national pledges to be reviewed and then ratcheted up, known as the Paris NDCs. The Talanoa Dialogue of storytelling will provide opportunity for Pacific Island nations to cut through the rhetoric and share real-life situations of the existential threat.
Climate change will determine human destiny and the Trump administration’s decision leaves America alone, not first. Hawaii has chosen the side of humanity to chart a decarbonization course.
Hawaii has more in common with other countries of the world. We have our blue line in the sand showing how sea-level rise will impact our island home. Our response of “we are still in” from our governor, as well as policies and grassroots practices, illustrate our island connection with fellow nations of Oceania.
The University of Hawaii is creating a diplomatic pathway for our youth to stand in solidarity with Large Ocean Nations providing opportunities, from the lo‘i to the UN. Students will complete courses and be a delegate to the diplomatic discussions assisting ambassadors of our Pacific neighbors.
Hawaii wants to share with future generations that we stood with the world. Hawaii Green Growth is a cross-cutting island initiative combining entrepreneurs and ecologists measuring our contribution to the moral challenge with principled and pragmatic leadership.
The recent Hokule‘a Malama Honua worldwide message represents us better than a fossil-fuel presentation by an administration alone when much of the rest of world agrees to phase out coal.
Our courses at UH with solutions being created by students and our community with Hawaii Green Growth illustrate our islands will be tireless and tenacious to reach the reduction targets of Paris. We will not be morally irresponsible and accept the indefensible position that puts our planet and people of Pacific in peril.
At COP 23, a “Powering Past Coal Alliance Declaration” was accepted by a new alliance of 19 nations seeking sustainable sources to power our planet. That’s where we belong in the world.
In 2017, the world realizes a response is needed now to stop the suffering facing societies. Even in America, one coast is in flames, the center and south is under water, and storms crash the East Coast. Working with others globally, our commitments in Hawaii can conquer civilizational challenges.
Joshua Cooper is a lecturer at the University of Hawai’i Center for Pacific Islands Studies & Senior Advisor on Sustainable Development Goals for UH Office of Sustainability. Cooper also assists Large Ocean Nations at the UNFCCC negotiations focusing on climate change & human rights.
