Pacific climate change activists are engaged in a race against time as they seek to influence the upcoming COP21 summit. As part of our engagement with Pacific social change movements, we are publishing the following short blog, to help publicise their campaign…

Pacific activists Noelene Nabulivou and Miki Wali write:

If Australia and New Zealand really cares about the Pacific as a partner, they must stand together with us to call for global climate justice.

We here in the Pacific have had enough. We are not drowning, but we are fighting…we will not give up on our Pacific islands. We do this for our future generations, cultures and societies.

We call for action from our neighbours, Australia and New Zealand, as the time nears for a legal binding deal on global climate change agreements. The strongest possible, binding, climate change agreements must be sought, if all Pacific island communities are to have a chance to survive and thrive.

Leaders have already met at the United Nations in New York (Weekend of 25-27 September); we now have just two weeks until the negotiation period is (marked by a meeting in Bonn, 23-27 October); and less than 10 weeks till the COP21 summit in Paris (30 November to 11 December).

We appeal to all Pacific Islanders globally to host peaceful rallies outside Australian and New Zealand High Commissions, Embassies and Consul Offices, and add their voices to this call for support. Civil society activists have already held a rally outside the Australian High Commission in Suva, Fiji, and despite the occurrence of arrests we will continue to campaign.

We demand climate change justice, based on youth and gender responsive policies, and for processes to adequately address the developmental and human rights impacts of climate change.

Will you stand in solidarity with us?

Join the COP 21 Urgent Action Hub Pacific, and amplify our voices using the hashtags #ClimateJustice #PacificVoicesMatter  #pacificclimatejustice #standwithpacific and #womenclimatejustice on social media.