Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo, Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa, reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the UN as the premier forum to address global challenges. “Multilateralism for Samoa is a practical necessity and not just an abstract ideal,” he said. “Only through genuine cooperation and mutual trust can we craft solutions that no single nation could achieve alone.”  While welcoming the UN80 initiative, he said any reform must strengthen delivery on the ground, especially for small islands developing States, by eliminating duplication, improving coherence and accelerating impact. Such reforms must not weaken the operations of the UN multi-country offices or the Resident Coordinator system.

Samoa’s geographical isolation and insularity no longer protects it from increasingly complex and dynamic security challenges, he said.  The reality of climate change and increased severity of disasters mean many Samoan communities are at risk of losing traditional homelands as shorelines are washed away and inland communities experience landslides.  The sustained international inaction detrimentally impacts all aspects of Samoan life. “Climate change remains the greatest existential threat to Samoa and other Pacific SIDS,” he said.  As the international community approaches COP30, he urged the 35 countries responsible for 86 per cent of global emissions to be “part of the solution, not the problem”.  New Nationally Determined Contributions must reflect maximum ambition and include a 50 per cent reduction in global emissions by 2030.

Urging the world to witness firsthand the consequences of climate change in the Pacific, Samoa supports Australia’s bid to host COP31 on behalf of the Blue Pacific continent.  The Pacific Ocean must be sustainably managed as economic growth has gravely cost marine ecosystems.  “Coupled with the unchecked exploitation of deep seabed mineral resources, our oceans face a crisis of limitless proportions,” he said.  Through its Samoa Ocean Strategy, his Government completed and legally adopted a Marine Spatial Plan, which helps implement its commitment to protect 30 per cent, and manage 100 per cent, of its ocean by 2030. Climate finance acts as the bridge from ambition to action and must be scaled up and responsive to the needs of small islands developing States.  “This way, the climate funds end up in the villages and communities, that need it the most,” he added.