Responding to today's announcement that COP31 will be hosted in Türkiye, with Australia presiding over negotiations, Oxfam Australia is calling on the Australian Government to show strong climate ambition and leadership, while ensuring Pacific and First Peoples voices are at the forefront.
As COP31 President, Minister Chris Bowen must commit to meaningful Pacific and First Peoples inclusion in decision-making, and ensure impacted communities receive the resources they need to deal with escalating climate impacts. While the Pacific Resilience Facility is an important Pacific-led initiative, and deserves to be funded, global climate finance needs extend well beyond it. COP31 will be crucial for securing a strong new finance goal that supports emissions reductions, adaptation and loss and damage in low-income countries.
Australia must also match growing global momentum on phasing out fossil fuels. At COP30 more than 80 countries have now called for a clear pathway away from coal, oil and gas; Australia was not among them. To protect communities in Australia and the Pacific, the Government must join this shift and commit to a fast, fair transition.
While not hosting COP31 in Australia is disappointing, it does not change what is required: stronger domestic climate ambition, increased support for First and Pacific peoples and low-income countries, and accountability for major polluters. The climate crisis is already threatening First Peoples and Pacific nations, and Australia's COP31 Presidency is an opportunity to show genuine climate leadership.
Oxfam Australia Executive Lead - Public Engagement Rod Goodbun says that as President of COP negotiations, Australia has a pivotal opportunity to demonstrate global leadership by taking real action, not rhetoric, on climate.
"Australia must prove it is serious about standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Pacific and First Nations communities through meaningful new funding and action to tackle the climate crisis," said Mr Goodbun.
"That means committing to a strong new climate finance goal to support countries like those in the Pacific, ensuring coal, oil and gas corporations pay their fair share through a Climate Pollution Levy, committing to dedicated funding for First Nations communities, and ending new fossil fuel developments once and for all."
"We don't need to host a COP to show climate leadership - we need to act. Australia's credibility depends on whether it can demonstrate genuine commitment to people over profits, climate justice, and to a just and sustainable future for all," he said.
Oxfam Australia is calling for the Australian Government to:
- Prioritise equality in the Australia-Pacific partnership, with proper power-sharing and respect for the leadership of First Nations and Pacific peoples.
- Set a strong new climate finance goal for support to our region for climate action, and lead a process to secure strong goals from other developed countries
- Hold big polluting corporations to account, by committing to make them pay for the climate damage they have caused through a Climate Pollution Levy that goes into a Climate Compensation Fund for impacted communities
- Provide meaningful new funding to the Pacific, enabling countries to cope with the severe impacts of climate change-impacts they had little hand in creating.
- Halt all new fossil fuel projects and sign on to the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, initiated by Pacific Nations, signaling a real shift towards a sustainable future.
- Ensure the UNDRIP principles of FPIC and self– determination are core to all decision– making mechanisms for First and Pacific Peoples in response to the climate crisis.
- Provide dedicated and adequate funding to First Nations communities in Australia and the Torres Strait Islands – for climate adaptation, mitigation, migration and solutions.
- Hold the government responsible for the "duty of care" for climate impacted First Nations communities, ensuring they are not left behind as the crisis escalates.
