The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Rising tides, raising voices: A call for climate action from the Pacific
In the Pacific, climate change is no longer a distant challenge to prepare for. It is happening now – threatening biodiversity and forcing islanders to fight for survival.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are at the frontlines of the global climate crisis.
As someone living and working in the Pacific Islands, I have witnessed firsthand the relentless impact of climate change across our fragile ecosystems. Each year, shorelines shrink and communities lose their land, livelihoods and sometimes their entire way of life. Families are facing malnutrition, unable to afford vegetables as saltwater intrusion devastates crops. Coral reefs, vital to our marine ecosystems, are bleaching and dying. The rising seas, unpredictable storms and disappearing coastlines are no longer hypothetical warnings – they are our daily reality.
Earlier this year, I had the honour of witnessing the adoption of the 'Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS: A Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity' at the Fourth International Conference on SIDS.
The message is clear: Small island nations can survive, thrive and lead the way in addressing climate change, but only if the global community stands with them.
The world must move beyond pledges and rhetoric and commit to scalable, sustainable solutions that address the unique vulnerabilities of SIDS. This means enhancing climate financing, bridging the digital divide and fostering robust international cooperation.
Above all, it means urgent and immediate action.
With a commitment to bridging the implementation gap, UNOPS works with our partners to answer this call and deliver impact on the ground.
Collaborating with the governments of Australia and Kiribati, we combine infrastructure with nature-based solutions, creating a model for long-term coastal protection and climate resilience in Kiribati. By focusing on both engineering solutions and nature-based approaches, such as mangrove reforestation, we aim to share knowledge, preserve biodiversity, safeguard natural habitats, and enhance ecosystem resilience.
In Timor-Leste, our work with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) within the broader Green Climate Fund framework is helping to establish early warning systems and build resilience to hydro-meteorological hazards. This includes facilitating the procurement, installation and commissioning of specialized equipment – such as automatic weather stations, radars and air quality monitoring systems.
Across 10 Pacific countries, we are leveraging digitalization to enhance resilience and unlock new possibilities for development. Together with the UN family, we are enhancing internet connectivity to bring online education, digital payments and e-governance within reach, transforming Small Islands into Smart Islands.
At the heart of these efforts is a shared agenda – addressing the vulnerability of Pacific Islands to climate change and demonstrating that practical, innovative solutions can be implemented. As the world convenes at COP29, the future of SIDS must be at the top of the climate agenda. Let our experience teach others and our resilience be a rallying cry for stronger climate action. It is time for the world to learn from our leadership and match our commitment with bold, decisive efforts to protect the islands and our common future.
Tokumitsu Kobayashi
Based in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, Tokumitsu Kobayashi is the Pacific Small Island Developing State Advisor representing UNOPS in the Pacific. His most recent assignment was as the Director of the UNOPS Jerusalem Office. Before that, he worked with the government of Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the UN Development Programme in several countries including Iraq, Kenya, South Sudan and Thailand. He holds a Master's degree in International Relations and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering.
