Written by MOCC Admin on 25 October 2021.

First Pre-COP Event Held in Vanuatu in Buildup to COP26

Honourable Prime Minister Bob Loughman Weibur, Hon. Minister of Climate Change, Bruno Leingkon, Hon Minister of Finance, Johnny Koanapo, Hon. Minister of Trade and Industry, James Bule, Her Excellency, British High Commissioner - Karen Bell, Her Excellency, Australian High Commissioner - Sarah deZoeten, His Excellency, French Ambassador, Pierre Fournier and His Excellency, New Zealand High Commissioner, Jonathan Schwass.

For the first time on October 25, 2021, Vanuatu hosted a two-day Pre-COP event in Port Vila, starting with a High-Level Ministerial Segment that involved the Honourable Prime Minister, Bob Loughman Weibur and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Rt. Honourable Broness Patricia Scotland.

The purpose of the Pre-COP event was to provide a setting to discuss and exchange views on some key political aspects of the negotiations and offer political guidance for subsequent negotiations.

The Pre-COP aimed also at providing a platform for Vanuatu’s technical experts that will participate at the COP26 [via virtual means] to refine and confirm Vanuatu’s national positions and participate in a Mock Negotiation in preparation for COP26.

The High-level Ministerial Segment was an opportunity for High-Level support for Vanuatu’s priority national positions (mainly Climate Finance, Mitigation, Adaptation, Loss and Damage, Transparency) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The Prime Minister had stated that science has confirmed record rates of increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and a terrifying approach towards the 1.5 degrees Celsius global heating limit.

“Every year, and every degree brings the Pacific Islands new levels of climate extremes and climate suffering.

“Vanuatu signed the Paris Agreement in 2015, expecting that every country would approach the climate crisis with all resources, technology, science and ambition, submitting National Determined Contributions (NDC) that do not overshoot the 1.5 degrees goal,” the Prime Minister said.

He continued that, despite these efforts, the current global NDCs are taking a path to beyond 2.7 degrees Celcius.

The British High Commissioner, Her Excellency Karen Bell, also delivered a speech during the Pre-COP event.

Present for the milestone occasion were the Honourable Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Bruno Leingkon, Honourable Minister of Finance and Economic Management, Johnny Koanapo and Honourable Minister for Trade and Industry, James Bule, along with Directors General and Directors.

Under the guidance of Climate Change Expert, Dr Christopher Bartlett, mock negotiations took place on October 26 (Tuesday) where Vanuatu delegates participated under their thematic areas.