President of CoP29, esteemed excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Lavenia Naivalu from the beautiful island of Fiji, standing before you as a voice from the heart of Oceania, speaking for Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities, women, youth, girls and boys from across the Pacific – the First Voices of Oceania.

Together, we represent those who have always lived by, and safeguarded, the Pacific Ocean. We are the stewards, the protectors, innovators and the resilient keepers of one of the world’s largest ocean.

We take immense pride in our role as the traditional custodians of our islands and the surrounding Pacific Ocean - a sacred responsibility entrusted to us by our forefathers to safeguard and protect for future generations and those yet to come.

Our commitment to this role is woven into our way of life, our stories, songs, art, culture and spirit. It is a shared promise that transcends generations, binding us to our islands and ocean that define us. Our knowledge and traditions are not relics of the past but are essential to our collective survival, resilience, and adaptability in the face of the climate crisis.

Through our shared spirit as One voice, One people, One world, with a vision of “inspiring all people to action through our protection and restoration of our Oceania”, we call on all Governments and world leaders, private sector, development partners and the global community to act now with urgency and honour your promises—not with sweet words and speeches, but with transformative, genuine actions.

For 28 years, we entrusted you to address this triple crisis of climate, biodiversity, and pollution—problems not of our making but of yours. And for 28 years, promises have come and gone, while we watch our islands and our oceans suffer.

You chose profit over people, over nature, over the planet. For 28 years, you presumed to know better than those of us at the grassroot level who call the Pacific Ocean our home. But twenty-eight years of inaction and empty pledges, have shown us otherwise. Will CoP29 be yet another year of all talk and no action?

Its time for change and transformative action! It is time to truly listen to those of us who stand on the front lines. Our voices matter—more than the voices of fossil fuel industries and corporate interests. Our traditional knowledge, value systems, and solutions trialled and tested over thousands of years offer a true path and way forward. These are solutions grounded in respect, responsibility, and care - not in false promises like geo-engineering or ocean fertilization to name a few that are being proposed with lots of uncertainties and with the potential for more irreversible harm.

Such greenwashing ideas can direct attention away for the urgent need to end and keep fossil fuel in the ground.

As the original stewards of Oceania, we stand united, committed to a just, equitable, and culturally grounded future. Together, let us continue to protect and restore Oceania, honouring our heritage and securing a resilient future for generations to come.

Thank you.