Small Island States Urge COP30 to Prioritize 1.5°C Survival Goal

At the COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil, representatives from small island states issued an urgent call for global action to address climate change. Steven Victor, the minister for agriculture, fisheries, and the environment of Palau, spoke on behalf of 39 vulnerable nations, emphasizing that the target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is not merely a political goal, but a crucial survival strategy. Victor’s remarks highlighted the existential threat these nations face from rising sea levels and increasingly severe tropical storms.

Victor’s address served as a stark reminder of the stakes involved in the ongoing climate negotiations. He warned that current climate action efforts are “dangerously off-track” and stressed that for small island states, the 1.5-degree target represents a matter of life and death. “For small island states, 1.5 degrees is not a political slogan. It is a non-negotiable survival response for our people, our culture, and our livelihoods,” he stated.

Science Takes Center Stage at COP30

This year’s summit marks a significant shift, as planetary science has been given a dedicated pavilion for the first time. This space is designed to showcase scientific research and facilitate discussions on climate-related issues. Scientists have taken this opportunity to express their frustration with the current pace of climate action. An open letter, signed by prominent figures including Brazilian climate expert Carlos Nobre, criticized the performance of world leaders, calling it “unacceptable.”

“Science shows us we need at least 5 percent emissions reductions every year, starting now,” the letter stated. “Unfortunately, current pledges equal a total 5 percent reduction in 10 years.”

The letter further warned that exceeding the 1.5-degree threshold increases the risk of crossing critical tipping points, which could lead to catastrophic impacts globally. Scientists underscored that the only way to prevent further temperature rises is to rapidly phase out fossil fuels.

Activists Demand Urgent Action

Activist groups, including the Planetary Guardians, joined the call for immediate action. The organization, which includes former Irish President Mary Robinson, highlighted alarming statistics related to the Amazon rainforest. They reported that human-driven climate change has made droughts in the Amazon region 30 times more likely, contributing to over 114,000 forest fires in the last two years. “When the Amazon degrades and large parts shift from carbon sink to source, the entire planet will feel the heat,” the group stated during a protest outside the summit.

In a separate but related effort, representatives from Tuvalu and Fiji discussed their involvement in securing a landmark advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice. This opinion, issued in July, established that states have a legal duty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and remain within the 1.5-degree limit. Vishal Prasad, of the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, emphasized the need for leaders to heed the voices of those directly affected by climate change. “If this COP sidelines those voices, it’s not only tone deaf; it is out of step with the International Court of Justice,” he said.

The discussions at COP30 underscore the urgent need for concrete actions to address climate change, particularly for the most vulnerable nations. As the summit continues, the voices from the front lines of the climate crisis remind world leaders that the stakes could not be higher.