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\n\tClimate justice advocates celebrated Friday after a half-dozen island nations committed to building a \"fossil fuel-free Pacific\" and urged all governments to join them in bringing about an equitable phaseout of coal, oil, and gas.\n<\/p>
\n\tFrom Wednesday to Friday, Vanuatu and Tuvalu co-hosted the 2nd Pacific Ministerial Dialogue on Pathways for the Global Just Transition from Fossil Fuels in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The summit came amid an ongoing state of emergency in Vanuatu, which was \n\thammered<\/a> earlier this month by a pair of Category 4 cyclones. Participants described the current devastation as \"just the most recent example of the extensive and ongoing fossil fuel-induced loss and damage suffered by\" Pacific Islanders.\n<\/p> \n\tAt the conclusion of the three-day meeting, ministers and officials from six countries\u2014Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Tonga, Fiji, Niue, and the Solomon Islands\u2014agreed on the \n\tPort Vila Call for a Just Transition to a Fossil Fuel-Free Pacific<\/a>.\n<\/p> \n<\/span>The resolution\u2014issued \"on behalf of present and future generations, communities on the frontlines, and all of humanity\"\u2014calls for immediate international action to accelerate a just transition from dirty to clean energy in accordance with what experts have shown<\/a> is necessary to avert the worst consequences of the climate crisis.\n<\/p> \n\t\"The science is clear that fossil fuels are to blame for the climate emergency,\" says the document. \"This is a crisis driven by the greed of an exploitative industry and its enablers. It is not acceptable that countries and companies are still planning on producing more than double the amount of fossil fuels by 2030 than the world can burn to limit warming to 1.5\u00b0C.\"\n<\/p> \n\t\"Every second wasted on climate inaction and clinging to fossil fuels puts lives, homes, livelihoods, cultures, and ecosystems in jeopardy.\"\n<\/p> \n\tAmong other things, the resolution implores policymakers in the Pacific and around the world to join the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA) and negotiate a fossil fuel nonproliferation treaty (FFNPT) to end the expansion of coal, oil, and gas extraction and to expedite a fair global shift to renewables. It also cautions lawmakers to avoid phrases like \"unabated\" or \"inefficient,\" warning that such terminology \"creates loopholes for fossil fuel producers.\"\n<\/p> \n\tIn a \n\tstatement<\/a>, Oil Change International global policy lead Romain Ioualalen said, \"Faced with devastating climate impacts resulting from the world's continued addiction to fossil fuels, Pacific governments have once again demonstrated what true leadership looks like.\"\n<\/p> \n\t\"The contrast between the U.S. and other rich countries approving new oil and gas fields in clear defiance of science, and the commitment to build a prosperous and resilient fossil fuel-free Pacific could not be more obvious and highlights the complete disregard the fossil fuel industry and its enablers have for people and communities most affected by the climate crisis,\" said Ioualalen. \"Countries must urgently heed the call for an immediate end to fossil fuel expansion that is emanating from the Pacific. We look forward to Pacific countries continuing to be vocal champions for a just and equitable phaseout of fossil fuels on the global stage, including at COP28 later this year.\"\n<\/p> \n\tSamoan climate justice activist Brianna Fruean said that \"this dialogue of Pacific ministers is stepping outside of the box and acknowledging that we must try new ways to save ourselves\u2014and that is going to require a fossil fuel nonproliferation treaty.\"\n<\/p> \n\t\"While the guilty continue to reap profit off the expansion of fossil fuels behind our backs,\" said Fruean, \"the meeting is bringing renewed energy to Pacific leadership that will not just echo across our islands but drive action with our allies globally.\"\n<\/p>\n