Photo: Chewy Lin.
Foreign Minister Kalani Kaneko headed the Marshall Islands delegation at the outset of the global climate summit in Belém, Brazil this past weekend.
He delivered a statement and was on hand for the initial stages of COP30 at which many heads of state and high-level government leaders participated.
RMI Minister of Environment Bremity Lakjohn is now leading the delegation following Kaneko’s departure. The annual marathon climate session that has brought tens of thousands of people to Belém is being held from November 10-21.
President Hilda Heine issued a letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, recognizing him for his strong climate action advocacy while emphasizing the perilous situation in which the world is in as negotiators descend on Brazil for COP30.
In a three-page letter, President Hilda Heine praised Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for his work on global climate action and called on the Brazilian president to ensure the global climate summit now underway in his country takes strong action.
“The Pacific Islands community is very grateful for the efforts of Brazil in corralling the majority support in the International Maritime Organization towards the adoption of the Net Zero Framework,” Heine said of the climate campaign to get international shippers to take action to reduce climate emissions. “Despite its postponement, we encourage you to continue inspiring those of us who believe in a just, science-led transition for the benefit of the shipping industry, consumers and the planet, to redouble efforts and political support to adopt the framework next year.”
She said the Marshall Islands is “ready to collaborate with you” on the climate work at the International Maritime Organization.
She also exhorted the Brazilian president to guide the COP30 summit to action.
“Future generations will look back on this decade, either with admiration or disappointment,” Heine said in her letter. “COP30 marks the most challenging and perilous moment yet in the fight to tackle climate change. It truly is the COP of truth.”
Heine said the climate emergency “requires an all hands on deck approach” combined with “strong and visionary leadership.”
“I believe Brazil is the right country to lead us, and we stand with you, ready to add the name of Belém alongside Rio (de Janeiro) as a turning point in our history towards a climate just future for all” — her mention of Rio de Janeiro related to Brazil’s hosting of the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 that led countries of the world to develop the first blueprint for international action on environmental and development issues.