71 accredited delegates will be representing Vanuatu at this year’s 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) on climate change at Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22.
30 of them are senior government officials, 11 represent non-government organisations, civil society organisations and the private sector, while 30 are representatives from external partners.
Government officials will actively participate in the negotiations and events, while 30 others, registered with the party overflow badge, will observe the proceedings but will represent or speak on behalf of the Vanuatu delegation.
Government representatives include Vanuatu’s Head to the United Nations (UN Mission), Special Enjoy on Climate Change and Environment, and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Climate Change. The ministers’ attendance is yet to be confirmed due to Parliament sitting.
The Strategic Manager for the National Advisory Board (NAB) on Climate Change, Florence Iautu, 90% of the delegates will have their traveling expenses covered by external partners, with only a few funded by the government.
Acting Director General (DG) of the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC), Abraham Nasak, said key topics of discussion and negotiations for Vanuatu include loss and damage, mitigation, adaptation, climate finance, just transition, oceans, agriculture, capacity building, global stocktake, transparency, technology, research and systematic observation.
Vanuatu negotiates under the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Group of 77 plus China (G77 + China) at COP events. AOSIS comprises small island nations that are vulnerable to impacts of climate change, while G77 is a coalition of developing countries that work together to promote their collective economic interests.
Acting DG Nasak said Vanuatu, as the Chair of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), will also be leading negotiations amongst the PSIDS during the COP29 session.
The Minister of Climate Change, John Salong, said that with Vanuatu serving as the PSIDS Chair and leading the case at the UN International Court of Justice (ICJ), it is crucial for the country to well represented at COP29.
“COP29 is a Climate Finance COP, with a focus on accessing climate finance for meeting the means of implementation to combating climate change impacts towards a resilience country,” he said.
“This means that Vanuatu will continue to be part of the COP negotiations in its membership to the AOSIS and the G77 + China groupings to ensure we have access to finance, technology, and capacity building.
“The government of Vanuatu believes COP29 is yet another opportunity to collaborate and urge our global partners to act with urgency to safeguard the lives of the people of Vanuatu, and everyone around the world, who depend on it.”
Some of the Vanuatu delegates are expected to leave the country today (Tuesday) to attend the Preparatory Meeting ahead of the actual COP Conference, while the rest will leave a few days before November 11.
Source: VDP
