High-Level Briefing on Climate Change, Human Mobility and Human Security: Statement of support for the Pacific Climate Change Migration and Human Security Programme

I would first like to acknowledge the joint effort across the UN to organize this briefing today on this important subject – climate change, human mobility and human security.

I would like to acknowledge the other speakers at this briefing, their remarks highlight the cross cutting and interlinked nature of the issue we are discussing today. In particular:

Par Liljert, Director of IOM, High Representatives for LDCS, LLDCs and SIDS - Ms. Rabab Fatima, E. Simon Kofe, Minister for Justice, Communications and Foreign Affairs of Tuvalu, H.E Conrod Hunte, DPR of Antigua and Barbuda and Yukio Takasu, Special Adviser to the SG on Human Security. I also acknowledge the other cosponsor to this event, AOSIS, Fiji, Tuvalu, Japan and Germany.

We are very pleased to be here and co-sponsor this event. For Aotearoa New Zealand, this is a great opportunity to recognise the important work delivered under the Pacific Climate Change, Migration and Human Security Programme (PCCMHS) and the opportunity for further progression in its next phase.

As Minister Kofe has already outlined today our Pacific whanaunga are already facing the impacts of climate change on a daily basis, and the damage caused by these impacts are mounting.

At this year’s Pacific Island Forum meeting, Leaders declared that the Pacific is facing a Climate Emergency that threatens the livelihoods, security, and the wellbeing of its people and ecosystems.

Aotearoa New Zealand is a country both in and of the Blue Pacific continent.  We agree that this climate emergency is the number one priority for action moving forward, as noted in The 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific. The Strategy also identifies climate change and disaster related mobility as a key issue to address.

Aotearoa New Zealand supports regional dialogue and Pacific-led action on climate mobility. For this reason, among others, we are very happy to be supporting, and to continue to support, the important work of the PCCMHS as it works to protect and empower communities adversely impacted by climate change and disasters in the Pacific region.

The PCCMHS also offers opportunities for wider collaboration and support. We welcome other partners to work with us to increase Pacific resilience by supporting this programme.  Thank you.