Australia thanks the Special Rapporteur for his presentation.

The impact of climate change on human rights cannot be overstated. Climate change is already having significant impacts in Australia and the Pacific. It poses an existential threat for our region - threatening cultural heritage, livelihoods and security.

Since her appointment in May this year, Australia’s Foreign Minister has visited nearly all Pacific Islands Forum countries and witnessed firsthand the impacts of climate change in the region. Nothing is more central to the security and economies of the Pacific than climate change, and we will listen to our Pacific partners as we stand shoulder-to-shoulder in responding to this crisis.

The Australian Government recognises the enhanced impact of the global climate crisis on populations in vulnerable situations. We are taking urgent action to address these impacts, including through provision of increased climate finance in our region. As part of Australia’s $2 billion climate finance commitment (2020-25), we will spend $700 million on climate and disaster resilience in the Pacific. This includes investing in critical climate resilient infrastructure and renewable energy projects in our region.
Averting, minimising, and addressing climate change-related loss and damage is key to the protection of human rights. We call for all states to come together to make meaningful progress on this issue.

As we approach COP27, it remains essential that those most affected by climate change are central to discussions about its solutions. We must all proactively support broad participation across the public, private, government and non-government sectors in international fora related to climate change. This includes amplifying the voices of women, youth, people with disabilities and First Nations people.

Special Rapporteur, how can action on loss and damage, including across the broader development, disaster risk reduction and humanitarian spheres, be made more effective at the community level?