by Ednal Palmer
In Apia, Samoa
With voices as powerful as the tides that bind their islands together, young leaders from across the Pacific delivered an impassioned plea to regional decision-makers today, urging urgent, tangible action on climate-induced loss and damage.
Gathered in Apia for Dialogue on Loss and Damage, youth representatives from 14 island nations – including the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu – presented a unified declaration shaped during a week-long pre-dialogue summit.
Framed around the Samoan proverb “You cannot make enough coconut oil from one coconut”, the statement underscored the need for collective Pacific solidarity in facing the escalating impacts of climate change.
“No one person, no one island, can face the challenges of our time alone,” the youth told regional leaders. “We fear the loss of our home… the erosion of our culture, biodiversity, and livelihoods. But we also carry hope – and we are ready to lead.”
The declaration called for:
- Institutional change – including an annual Pacific Youth Forum on Loss and Damage and integration of the topic into school curricula.
- Youth inclusion – genuine participation in decision-making processes, with financial and technical resources to implement solutions.
- Education and capacity building – climate education grounded in science and traditional knowledge, youth mentorships, and training for teachers.
- Partnerships and finance – direct, transparent access to funding for youth-led initiatives, with representation in loss and damage finance bodies.
The youth leaders stressed that their role is not symbolic.
“We are not waiting to be empowered – we are already powerful. But power alone is not enough; even the strongest canoe cannot cross the ocean without a sail, a paddle, and provisions for the journey.”
They urged governments, development partners, and elders to match their determination with resources, frameworks, and active collaboration to protect Pacific homes, cultures, and ecosystems.
As the first generation to grow up fully in the climate crisis, the youth warned that delays will deepen losses already being felt — from disappearing shorelines to displacement, loss of income, and cultural erosion.
The platform offered in Apia, they said, is more than a chance to speak.
“It is a responsibility we carry with humility and determination… The youth are the rising tide of our islands — unshaken by fear, strengthened by hope, and united to protect our home.”
With the declaration now in the hands of Pacific leaders, the young delegates say they will continue to progress the issue — and ready to keep steering the course toward a climate-resilient future.