Climate Change Challenges to the Sovereignty of our Pacific Atoll Nations

Pacific Islands Council QLD Inc. and Friends of the Earth Australia Climate Frontlines presents a forum with esteemed Pacific Climate Change Leaders. This forum will be hosted online on Monday, October 19th at 5PM AEST/6PM AEDT (daylight savings).  

Currently, international law and conventions covering international relations dictate that the possession and enjoyment of national sovereignty are tied to static conceptions of territory, population, authority, and recognition. The impacts of climate change – such as sea level rise, increased frequency of intense weather events, groundwater salination, and declining food security – threaten to undermine atoll peoples’ claims to territorial sovereignty and, in so doing, threaten to undermine the political basis for their collective self-determination. 

This forum, the first of two on the topic, will provide a platform for Pacific Islanders to ask critical questions about the nature and future of sovereignty in a changing climate, identify potential long term solutions, and share their perspectives with a wider audience with a view to shaping future local, regional and international decision-making. 

  Forum speakers include: 

• Hon Enele Sopoaga - Former Tuvalu Prime Minister and Current MP 
  
• Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner -  Climate Envoy to the Marshalls and Poet
  
• HE Anote Tong -  Former Kiribati President 
  
• Exsley Taloiburi - Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Climate Change Advisor

This event is free of charge and donations are gratefully accepted. All are welcome to join. 

We respectfully acknowledge that this online event will be hosted by individuals on the land of the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples, as well as watched by others from across the many Nations. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging. 

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EVENT TECHNICALITIES: 

This event is occurring online via the Zoom video-teleconferencing software. You will be emailed Zoom dial-in details upon successful registration. You do not need a Zoom account to listen in, however, we recommend you create a free Zoom account so that you can automatically access the meeting hyperlink/avoid any minor tech, wifi, or device issues.  
If you have any questions for our panelists, there will be a dedicated time in the event to ask them.