STATEMENT
by His Excellency Taneti Maamau,
President of Kiribati
at the COP28th High Level plenary, December 9th, 2023
Mr President,
Excellencies Distinguished Delegates and youth
In his Holy Name, allow me to extend warm greetings from the government and the people of Kiribati, Kam na Mauri.
As we gather for this crucial High Level session, the urgency of our nation cannot be overstated. Recent extreme weather events jeopardize the security and well-being of our youth. Kiribati mission for 20 years charts a course toward a brighter future for our young generations.
As world leaders our capacity to enhance the health well-being and safety of our youth is far from our reach. Safeguarding their prospects through the availability of essential goods and services cannot be realized without political commitment. This COP must prioritize the phasing out of fossil fuels to align with a 1.5 degrees celsius pathway and peaking emissions by 2025. Apparently, the best available science shows that current global commitments to NDCs will overshoot the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold. These reports demand of us a robust and ambitious global stocktake outcome to course-correct. It compels developed countries to a just transition, increased financing and technical support taking into consideration the special circumstances of the most vulnerable, the small island developing states.
Mr. President,
I congratulate your work to secure pledges adopted on the first day of the COP for the loss and damage fund. While this is a welcome progress, I wish to highlight the need for the continued capitalization of the fund. I encourage its swift operationalization and simplified accessibility.
Despite our limited resources we continue our presence because of our faith in multilateralism to solve our climate challenge. Yet the current state of the negotiations is concerning. I implore all parties not to allow distractions that shifts goalposts. The COVID19 pandemic taught us a valuable lesson – that through collective action we can unite, act and deliver the same for the climate agenda. I applaud the UN’s promise to our youth COP to do anything to secure their future on our hands. I strongly urge my fellow leaders to place youth at the forefront of our decision so we can build a resilient, prosperous and sustainable future for them and for the entire humanity.
May the Kiribati blessing of Te Mauri, te Raoi, ao te Tabomoa be upon us all bringing health, peace and prosperity to us all. I thank you. –ENDS
