Massively accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuels

Ngerulmud In view of the severe impact of the climate crisis on small countries such as the Pacific island nation of Palau, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is pushing for a rapid global phase-out of fossil fuels. The next world climate conference in November in Egypt must make it clear: “We share this fate together and we can only overcome this climate crisis together,” said the Green politician on Saturday after a meeting with Palau’s Foreign Minister Gustav Aitaro.

“Above all, this means a massively accelerated phase-out of fossil fuels and an energy transition, worldwide,” she added. The minister had previously informed herself about the dramatic effects of the global climate crisis during a visit to the island of Ngkesill, which is part of the “Rock Islands”.

Baerbock took a boat to the island, which is part of an approximately 40-kilometer-long archipelago in central Palau that is bordered by a dense coral reef. Against the backdrop of the small neighboring islands overgrown by jungle in the turquoise ocean, she was shown barefoot, trees uprooted by storms and washed-up plastic waste.

The pollution of the seas makes life difficult for marine ecosystems. Baerbok were also shown nests of sea turtles that are migrating from Palau because their habitat is shrinking. In the community of Melekeok on the east coast of Badeldaob Island, known for its long sandy beaches, Baerbock spoke to local residents and merchants whose homes are likely to fall victim to rising sea levels in the coming years.

As a consequence, Baerbock said after the meeting with Aitaro that the next climate conference must make it clear: “There is a fire in all parts of the world. On some the fire blazes, on others it burns brightly. And in some places you don’t even know if the flame will be lit today or maybe in ten years.”

Renewable energies for everyone

In connection with Russia’s brutal war of aggression in Ukraine, there is a chance that the switch to renewable energies, which has been much too slow up to now, will “massively accelerate, because the energy issue has also become a security issue,” said the minister.

>> Read here: ECB criticizes the banks’ inadequate handling of climate risks

In this process, it must also be ensured “that not only the regions that can now invest money quickly are at the forefront again. But (that) even small island states like (Palau) can switch to renewable energies as quickly as possible.” At the same time, those parts of the country that can no longer be saved must be supported, said Baerbock.

Speaking to residents of a coastal community, Baerbock said: “The climate emergency is not an isolated crisis. It is the most difficult security problem of our time.” Threatened Pacific nations have repeatedly warned of the consequences of climate change. “But we have to admit that our response as an international community has been insufficient, our support too limited.”

Now it is “really time that we not only listen to you from afar, but that we actually come here”. The last time a German foreign minister traveled to Palau was 120 years ago. In order to provide better and long-term support to nations threatened by rising sea levels, she appointed diplomat Beate Grzeski as special envoy for the Pacific island states. Grzeski is now the direct contact person for the archipelago.

No region of the world is suffering as much from the climate crisis as the Pacific States – even though their share of global greenhouse gas emissions is so small. “This is a blatant injustice,” said Baerbock. In order to achieve the desired climate goals, the world’s largest CO2 emitters in particular would have to reduce greenhouse gas emissions more quickly, including Germany. “We are not oceans apart, we stand side by side,” Baerbock called out to the people of Palau.

More: Just no photo with the Russians: The dilemma of the West at the G20 meeting