Pacific declaration urges end to age of fossil fuels

In a powerful display of unified resolve, Pacific nations have issued the landmark Tassiriki Call, demanding an immediate end to the age of fossil fuels. This declaration, forged in Port Vila, Vanuatu, not only reiterates the urgent need for a fossil fuel phase-out but also explicitly denounces technologies like carbon capture and geoengineering, which proponents use to justify continued fossil fuel extraction. For island states on the front lines of the climate crisis, this is not merely an environmental issue; it is a fight for survival and a call for global justice. The Tassiriki Call serves as a unified voice ahead of the inaugural international conference on fossil fuel phase-out in Colombia, signaling that the Pacific is leading the charge for a sustainable future. The declaration's commitment to leveraging international law, particularly following the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion, underscores the strategic approach Pacific nations are taking to hold major polluting states accountable. This move highlights the stark contrast between the urgent pleas from vulnerable nations and the continued reliance on fossil fuels by major economies, including some within the Pacific region itself, like Australia, which remains a significant fossil fuel exporter despite its climate commitments. The Tassiriki Call is more than a declaration; it is a blueprint for survival, a demand for a fair transition, and a testament to the unwavering spirit of the Pacific in the face of existential threat. It is a message from the frontline: the era of fossil fuels must end, and the Pacific is leading the way.

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It sets a clear direction for our unified coalition of countries who are ready to secure a fast, fair and financed transition away from coal, oil and gas production.