Solomon Islands

Doing Our Fair Share: New Zealand’s Responsibility to Provide

August 27, 2024

Humanitarian agencies World Vision New Zealand and Oxfam Aotearoa, have released an important climate finance report today – Doing Our Fair Share: New Zealand’s Responsibility to Provide Climate.

This report is published during the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga and ahead of the United Nations climate change conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, where the New Zealand government will be participating in negotiations on climate finance to fund climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.

Read the report here.

Note to Editors:

New Zealand’s fair share of climate finance has been calculated by looking at the country’s share of responsibility for climate change (based on the country’s cumulative emissions of greenhouse gases since 1992 and since 1850) and its ability to pay (according to its Gross National Income) relative to other higher-income (“Annex II”) countries.

A new climate finance goal that delivers for the Pacific

August 27, 2024

This report brings together the voices, experiences and demands of civil society from across the Pacific region, including Australia and New Zealand. It has been endorsed by the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network and 55 organisations and networks across seven countries, including Australia and New Zealand. The report presents a comprehensive vision for a new climate finance goal that delivers for the most vulnerable communities, and that sets the world on track to scale up climate action, phase out fossil fuels and transition to a cleaner, greener and more just future for all.

Read report here.

Doing Our Fairshare: New Zealand’s Responsibility to Provide Climate Finance Report

August 27, 2024

Two new reports reveal how New Zealand can meet its climate finance obligations ahead of COP29.

Auckland, New Zealand –Humanitarian agencies World Vision New Zealand and Oxfam Aotearoa, alongside the New Zealand Climate Action Network (NZCAN), have released two important climate finance reports today.

These reports are published during the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga and ahead of the United Nations climate change conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, where the New Zealand government will be participating in negotiations on climate finance to fund climate change adaptation and mitigation measures

Doing Our Fair Share: New Zealand’s Responsibility to Provide Climate Finance, is published today by World Vision New Zealand and Oxfam Aotearoa.

“Our report highlights New Zealand’s responsibility to bolster its climate finance support for communities on the frontlines of climate change in the Pacific” says co-author, World Vision’s Advocacy Policy and Research Advisor, Dr Olivia Yates.

“As climate change intensifies, those communities least responsible are paying the highest price. Children and their families who are facing the most severe impacts often live in poverty, unable to afford the necessary tools to switch to greener, more climate-resilient livelihoods and prepare for future unprecedented extreme weather,” she says.

Co-Author, Oxfam Aotearoa’s Climate Justice Lead Dr Nick Henry says “New Zealand’s climate finance is helping to build resilience for Pacific communities on the frontlines of climate change. The need for support will only increase in the coming years and New Zealand should continue to stand with the Pacific and be ready to contribute our fair share.”

The report reveals that to meet its fair share of climate finance, New Zealand should be contributing between 0.38% and 0.66% of the global climate goal, which currently equates to between NZ$558 million and NZ$953 million each year, based on our gross national income (GNI) and historic greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, New Zealand is only fulfilling 34% to 58% of this target.

The report shows that, although New Zealand’s climate finance falls short by over NZ$200 million, its funding has been steadily increasing. In the next funding round (2026-2030), New Zealand has a fresh opportunity to show global leadership by committing to provide a fair share of climate finance.

Dr Olivia Yates hopes the report will encourage the government to take seriously the need for ambitious climate finance in its upcoming climate finance decisions.

“While all countries must act on climate change, higher-income countries like New Zealand should pay their ‘fair share’ of the bill for climate action, based on their higher historical emissions and financial capability.”

Climate finance involves funding to support lower-income countries to cover the costs of shifting to greener systems, adapting to our warming world, and dealing with losses and damages from extreme weather – all vital for a response to climate change that leaves no one behind.

‘Seizing the Moment: A New Climate Finance Goal That Delivers for the Pacific’, by Climate Action Networks (CAN) in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, calls on the New Zealand Government to stand with the Pacific and commit to new funding aligned with a stronger global goal on climate finance, known as the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG), to be set at COP29 this November.

The NCQG is set to replace the prior US$100 billion (NZ$146 billion) annual global goal, a promise made by higher-income nations in 2010 to provide at least US$100 billion annually for climate change adaptation and mitigation each year.

Dr Nick Henry, Climate Justice Lead at Oxfam Aotearoa and co-author on the CAN report, says that funding to-date has been far from fair.

“The previous $100 billion goal was largely met in 2022 through loans and redirected development assistance, exacerbating debt burdens in lower-income countries. Countries on the frontlines of climate change now spend more paying debts than they receive in aid.”

The CAN report calls for a global target of at least US$1 trillion per year (NZ$1.46 trillion), prioritising grants over loans, to adequately support those hit hardest by climate change.

“At COP29, New Zealand has an opportunity to stand with the Pacific and advocate for a stronger, fairer climate finance target,” he says.

“New Zealand should commit to its fair share of the refreshed global goal, retaining its emphasis on grants instead of loans, and in addition to current aid efforts, to show enduring support, leadership, and a commitment to equity.”

As COP29 approaches, New Zealand has the opportunity—and the responsibility—to increase its fair share of climate finance and stand with the Pacific to ensure a fairer and more sustainable future for people most affected by climate change. Countries on the frontlines are urging global action, and New Zealand must rise to the challenge.

Note to Editors:

Media Contact:

For a copy of the report, or to arrange interviews, please contact: Rachel Schaevitz – [email protected] or 027 959 5555 Ashley Miln – [email protected] or 020-4051-3769 Kirsty Jones – [email protected] or (09) 580 7753

Amitabh Behar named Oxfam International’s Executive Director

August 9, 2024

Oxfam International is pleased to announce the appointment of Amitabh Behar as its new Executive Director. Behar is a respected global civil society leader, with three decades of experience and extensive work on human rights, economic inequalities, governance accountability, philanthropy, democracy and social justice. He was selected following a competitive recruitment process.

Behar joined Oxfam in April 2018 as the Chief Executive of Oxfam India. More recently, he served as Oxfam International’s Interim Executive Director.

“Behar is a thoughtful and creative feminist leader, with an in-depth understanding of the causes and complexities of poverty, inequality, discrimination and suffering. We are confident in his ability to convene our confederation, alongside our partners, to deliver our vision for a just and equal world,” said Dr. Aruna Rao, the Chair of the Oxfam International Board of Directors.

Behar said: “I embark on this new chapter acutely aware of the global and interconnected challenges we face in our world today. We require urgent action built on new solidarities, new imaginations, and new dreams to deliver a more equal and sustainable future for all.

“Oxfam carries a rich legacy rooted in working with communities while advocating for systemic change. I am eager to channel our collective energies, boldness, resources, and partnerships in support of peoples’ power for the good of majority of the global population.”

Behar has made valuable contributions to Oxfam’s transformation of its own confederation, decolonizing its decision-making and strengthening its collective structure and policies. He has been widely recognized for his work on people-centric advocacy, governance accountability, social and economic equality, and citizen participation.

Prior to Oxfam, Behar was Executive Director of the National Foundation for India and Co-Chair of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty. He has also served as the Vice-Chair of the Board of CIVICUS and the Chair of Navsarjan (Ahmedabad) and President of Yuva in Mumbai. He currently serves on the boards of several other organizations, including the Global Fund for Community Foundation and the Norwegian Human Rights Fund.

Contact: Rachel Schaevitz, [email protected]

Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands is an archipelago of more than 900 islands in the South Pacific. The people in this country face significant challenges across the areas of climate resilience, gender equity and inclusive governance.

Recent research shows climate finance flows are increasing, but that does not necessarily mean that climate finance is adequate or that finance is translating into concrete benefits on the ground.

Women in Solomon Islands face a number of systemic and deep-rooted barriers to full participation, including heavily male-dominated decision-making systems and practices, reinforced by gender stereotypes that portray women as less able than men to lead or make decisions.

Women are often prevented from gaining leadership positions because of low levels of education, a high burden of family care responsibility, high levels of violence, and underlying discriminatory social norms. As a result, women’s voices and priorities are often absent or secondary in decision-making within the household, the community, provincial government plans and national policies.

Quick facts from the World Bank, UN Human Development Report, and UNICEF:

Capital of Solomon Islands: Honiara
Population: 800,005 (2023)
GDP per capita (USD): $2,041.6 (2023)
Human Development Index: 0.606, rank 141 (2021)
Language: English is the official language, but Solomon Islands pijin is the lingua franca. There are over 80 different local languages plus dialects.
Adult Literacy: 76.6 (2024)
Life expectancy: 71 years (2022)
Access to safe water: 67% (2021)
People living below the national poverty line: 26.6% (2012)

By supporting Oxfam You will:

Improve women’s access to climate finance
Ensure that there is greater transparency around how climate finance is used, especially in how it addresses the needs of women

Key Project

Climate Finance and Empowerment Project

This project seeks to ensure that climate finance decision-makers factor in the needs of women in Solomon Islands.

Decision making around climate finance must be inclusive, equitable, and transparent, so that all people have the power to influence the decisions that impact them.

Solomon Islands Climate Finance & Empowerment Project

Solomon Islands is an archipelago of 922 islands, grouped into nine main islands, with Guadalcanal as the largest that hosts the capital, Honiara. More than half of workers (65%) are in vulnerable jobs and are particularly susceptible to economic shocks, including those caused by natural disasters. Despite their determination, unique skills and importance in the community, women in Solomon Islands have little influence on the critical decisions that directly impact their lives because they are not often included in decision-making groups or processes. They face a near-constant threat of flooding, inadequate roads and infrastructure, and very limited opportunities to push their government for improvements. Their homes and businesses are in daily danger, and yet those in power, such as politicians and village elders, do not always hear them.

A heavily male-dominated society, with restrictive beliefs about women’s roles and abilities, has created an environment where women are not encouraged to speak up about the challenges they face or their ideas for positive change. Widely held stereotypes portray women as less able than men and block them from leadership roles. Examples of these long-standing beliefs include the notion that women’s main responsibility is to care for the family, that men should not be involved in unpaid care work, and that women should also always have the permission of their husbands when engaging in any economic activity. Across all ages, girls and women’s participation in education, training and employment opportunities are hindered by high levels of violence against them. As a result, women’s voices are not always heard and they are less able to contribute to the decisions that significantly impact their lives.

KŌTUI

Solomon Islands Climate Finance & Empowerment Project is part of our larger five-year, multi-country programme, Kōtui. Read more about Kōtui here!

This te reo Māori word means binding together, or interlacing, during weaving. The woven mat represents dialogue and joint problem-solving in Pacific countries and in Timor-Leste. It is an appropriate symbol for a programme focused on inclusive and equitable governance.

CLIMATE FINANCE

‘Climate finance’ is the term used for funds that support people to stop climate destruction or adapt to its impacts. Effective climate finance is funding that all people can use and benefit from, especially people who experience discrimination and poverty. Oxfam’s work in Solomon Islands seeks to ensure that climate finance decision-makers factor in the needs of women, that there is greater transparency in how climate funds are spent and allocated, and that women’s voices are included in policy and finance decisions.

Women’s increased access to resources

This project will contribute to the Kōtui goal with two long-term outcomes. First, women will have increased access to and control over household and community resources that can improve their resilience. Much of this work will be structured around existing community savings groups in the home area of our partner West Are’are Rokotanikeni Association (WARA), on Malaita Island. It will then expand to further groups and provinces. These savings groups give women a space to come together, store their savings safely, learn financial literacy skills, build their confidence and increase their participation in leadership and decision-making in rural communities. Community led workshops will lift the ability of women (and men) to articulate their issues and negotiate with those who control the resources they need to achieve their aims, in an organised and systematic manner.

Improved governance

The second long-term outcome will ensure that decision-making around climate finance, its governance, is more inclusive, equitable, and transparent, so that all people have the power to influence the decisions that impact them.

On Malaita island, WARA has continued to work with the houses of chiefs, the traditional leadership structures, to make sure that they are well-equipped to lead to community in a way that is both inclusive and effective. In these communities that sit just above sea level and feel the impacts of climate change at every high tide, it’s critical that everyone is involved in discussions and decisions about the future of the community. So it’s significant that just over a quarter of participants in governance and leadership training for the ‘small’ houses of chiefs were women.

Our other partner, Solomon Islands Climate Action Network (SICAN) – will look closely at climate finance in Solomon Islands to understand how much, how and where climate finance flows to communities. SICAN will work to build collaborative relationships with key decision-makers in government departments to improve the governance of climate finance.

In February 2024, Oxfam Aotearoa staff traveled to Malaita province in Solomon Islands to visit rural villages where Kо̄tui partner, WARA, runs women’s savings groups and trainings. Programme participants from Aiarai village explain how climate change and rising seas are affecting their livelihoods, and ways that WARA is helping them adapt and learn new skills so that they can better advocate for the climate finance that can improve their situations.

“Some of my plantation of swamp taro, sea rise also destroyed. Come and destroy all this garden of swamp taro. It’s level, all here, is level with the sea. So all this garden of swamp taro is destroyed by sea rise. I find it very difficult, like in this village. But still, we try our best. I thank WARA because more knowledge I get from WARA – how to cook cake, how keeping house, keeping children, leadership. I think most of my life I take from WARA, knowledge from WARA. Even my children, I teach them how to become a good leader in this village.” – Joyce (pictured right).

Our partners:

West ‘Are’Are Rokotanikeni Association (WARA)

Founded in October 1999, WARA is an indigenous, women-led organisation with deep experience of gender equity and women’s empowerment in rural communities in Solomon Islands. It supports women across five key areas: economic empowerment, leadership, climate change, research and publication.

WARA’s long-standing presence and deep relationships in Malaita have laid a strong foundation for the opening of community and tribal governance forums to women, and for more equally shared decision-making within households.

Oxfam and WARA are dedicated to empowering women in both rural and urban areas, helping them run small businesses and overcome challenges such as COVID-19 recovery, climate change, inflation, and inadequate infrastructure. Despite these obstacles, women have made significant improvements in their families’ health, education, housing, and sanitation, highlighting their resilience.

Solomon Islands Climate Action Network (SICAN)

SICAN is national network that brings together the coalition support of local, national, and international CSO’s to support and raise the voices of the most marginalised communities facing the impacts of climate change.

By the end of the five-year Kōtui programme…

We expect to see the following improved governance outcomes:

Women’s voices are included in more policy processes (consultations, meetings, hearings) related to community-based climate change adaptation at national and community levels
Climate adaptation policies and programmes increasingly consider the rights and roles of women and other groups facing marginalisation
Climate finance decision-makers at the national level increasingly include evidence on impacts and needs of women and other groups facing marginalisation in decision-making
Greater transparency on climate finance decision processes, allocations and impacts
More climate finance allocated to addressing the needs and priorities of women and other groups facing marginalisation