Thinking Globally, Acting Regionally: The Case for a Pacific Climate Treaty

Pacific Islands Development Forum & Pacific Islands Climate Action Network

22 Pages Posted: 16 Oct 2017

See all articles by Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh

Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh

University of Amsterdam ; University of the South Pacific, School of Law; University of Cambridge, Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Research

Date Written: June 23, 2016

Abstract

The Model Pacific Climate Treaty presented in this report is a draft model treaty for the Pacific region aimed at averting the multiple threats posed by climate change. The initiative of a Pacific Climate Treaty builds on the momentum of the Paris Agreement adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Although the adoption of this new international climate change treaty marks a major breakthrough in international diplomacy, the advances made with the Paris Agreement are mainly procedural. In contrast, the Model Pacific Climate Treaty contains substantive regional targets that combine climate, development and human rights objectives. For example, the Treaty provides a bold example of the region’s commitment to keeping global temperature rise well below 1.5°C by banning new coal or fossil fuel mines in the territories of State parties. The Model Treaty also contains a clause aimed at securing the perpetual sovereignty and rights of Pacific Island peoples and their territories, in the face of the existential threats posed by climate change to many Pacific Island nations and communities. As for institutions, the Treaty sets up a Pacific Islands Climate Commission to further enhance regional cooperation and promote Pacific leadership in meeting the challenges posed by climate change, and a Pacific Islands Climate Compensation Fund to help facilitate compensation for Pacific Island communities and nations affected by climate change from actors with significant historical responsibility for climate change. Overall, the Treaty is aimed at filling glaring gaps in the protection of those who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, while inspiring more ambitious action in other regions and at the global level.

Keywords: Climate Change, Climate Law, Climate Governance, Pacific Islands, Climate-Induced Migration, Climate Refugees, Statehood, International Law

JEL Classification: I18, I28, I30, K10, K32, K33, K37, L31, L38, L50, L51, O14, O15, O19, O20, O25, O33, O35, O38

Suggested Citation

Wewerinke-Singh, Margaretha, Thinking Globally, Acting Regionally: The Case for a Pacific Climate Treaty (June 23, 2016). Pacific Islands Development Forum & Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3053729 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3053729

Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh (Contact Author)

University of Amsterdam ( email )

Postbus 15654
1001 ND
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland 1001 ND
Netherlands

University of the South Pacific, School of Law ( email )

Emalus Campus
Port Vila, Efate
Vanuatu

HOME PAGE: http://www.usp.ac.fj/index.php?id=6193

University of Cambridge, Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Research ( email )

Trinity Ln
Cambridge, CB2 1TN
United Kingdom

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