New York, September 22, 2024 – At the margins of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, Her Excellency President Dr. Hilda C. Heine participated in a high-level working lunch hosted at the Permanent Mission of Germany in New York. The event, organized by His Excellency Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany and Her Excellency Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa of Samoa, centered around key discussions on international climate policy and global governance.
During the discussions, President Heine emphasized the critical need for increased climate finance, specifically for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like the Marshall Islands. Her Excellency highlighted the estimated $35 billion needed for the Marshall Islands’ National Adaptation Plan (NAP), which includes $9 billion for vital infrastructure to protect the nation’s urban centers. President Heine stressed that grant-based and concessional financing is essential, noting the challenges in securing profit-driven investments in climate adaptation projects for vulnerable states.
President Heine also urged the international community, particularly developed nations, to support island-led climate finance initiatives such as the Bridgetown Initiative and the proposed greenhouse gas levy under the International Maritime Organization (IMO). She commended the growing support from countries like Germany and expressed hope for continued momentum behind such innovative solutions.
On the broader issue of climate finance and trust-building, President Heine called for a significant scale-up of public finance, especially for adaptation and addressing loss and damage. She highlighted that trust is earned through action, not just commitments. President Heine urged developed nations, including Germany, to improve access to climate finance and fulfill their pledges, noting that delays in financial support exacerbate the impacts of the climate crisis on vulnerable nations.
Her Excellency President Heine further emphasized the need for urgent reforms to the international financial system to ensure that developing countries can meet their climate goals, while calling on G20 nations to deliver 1.5°C-aligned Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and demonstrate leadership in phasing out fossil fuels.
As the world faces escalating climate challenges, President Heine reaffirmed the Marshall Islands’ commitment to global climate leadership and called on developed nations to meet their responsibilities in addressing the climate crisis.
