The Special Adviser to the President of the United Nations General Assembly has met with Vanuatu’s National Advisory Board on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction to discuss urgent issues relating to climate mobility.
Climate mobility refers to situations where people are forced to relocate due to the impacts of climate change.
Professor Amakrane, who heads the Global Centre for Climate Mobility under the United Nations system, led the discussions with the Board. As a climate action adviser, Amakrane is working to help countries adapt to climate change impacts with support from the Global Centre.
Speaking to members of the National Advisory Board (NAB), Professor Amakrane emphasized that climate mobility is a growing concern for the Pacific region, including Vanuatu.
He stated that the United Nations is committed to partnering with countries to strengthen a climate mobility agenda that supports communities during times of climate-related displacement.
“Our objective is to learn from the experiences across the UN system over the past decades and build a climate mobility agenda that has global principles but is anchored in local solutions, because the reality in Vanuatu — and its many islands — is different from neighboring countries like Fiji or other Pacific nations,” Amakrane said.
Following the discussions with NAB members, Professor Amakrane noted that Pacific countries face unique challenges when it comes to climate mobility, with some projects taking many years to implement.
He stressed the need for continued advocacy:
“We need to keep the pressure on governments, especially with donors and their grants, to fund and support resilient infrastructure and essential services. At the same time, we must ensure that communities also have direct access to climate finance.”
Acting Director of the Climate Change Department, Nelson Kalo, welcomed the opportunity, saying Vanuatu looks forward to working closely with global partners to address climate mobility effectively.
“Vanuatu is looking forward to capitalizing on these opportunities, building community resilience, and strengthening institutions to access the resources available under the climate mobility agenda to meet our communities’ urgent needs in a timely manner,” Kalo said.
Professor Amakrane’s visit to Vanuatu is part of a wider tour of Pacific nations and other regions around the world as the UN ramps up efforts to address the growing threat of climate-induced displacement.
