By Sanjeshni Kumar, Pacnews
At 26 years old, Palau’s Kenley Kenneth is one of a growing cohort of young rising Pacific climate diplomats.
Attending the inaugural Loss and Damage Youth Dialogue as the youth climate negotiator for the Republic of Palau, he knows exactly what is at stake if the climate crisis continues to escalate.
For him the fight is deeply personal.
“I feel very blessed and fortunate to have people within the government that see the value in cultivating young people within the climate space,” Kenneth said.
“As somebody who’s been following Loss and Damage for my second year now, I’m so fortunate to have this opportunity to forward our interest, not only for Palau, but for the Pacific region.”
From his island home, Kenneth has witnessed the changes first-hand. Rising seas and extreme tides are no longer distant warnings; they are here.
“King tides are coming into a lot of Pacific islands, affecting the sea level. You can see ports which are almost underwater in Palau,” he said. “It’s very important that we address those issues.”
Loss and Damage, the area he has committed himself to, goes beyond economics. It is about the very survival of Pacific communities and their identity.
“It refers not only to economic livelihoods but also our culture and tradition at stake,” Kenneth explained.
“To me, Loss and Damage is incredibly important because it means preserving our livelihoods, our cultures, and our traditions.”
Now in his second year representing the Republic of Palau at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations, Kenneth sees his role as a bridge between his people’s lived experiences and the global decision-making tables.
“My role in the UNFCCC space is to really advocate for our positions, not only as a country, but also as a small island developing state, making sure that our interests are properly expressed in the international platform.”
Looking to the future, he believes in the power of strong partnerships and clear Pacific leadership in climate talks.
“It would provide a very crucial platform for Pacific Islands to, along with Australia, forward our needs to address the climate crisis,” he said.
“I think it would be a great opportunity for the Pacific to showcase our interests and our positions within the negotiation space.”
For Kenneth, climate diplomacy is more than negotiations, it is a responsibility to his people, his culture, and the generations yet to come.
The inaugural Pacific Youth Dialogue on Loss and Damage, guided by the theme “Navigating our Future” is held from 7- 8 August, Taumeasina Resort, Samoa. This precedes the Pacific Regional Loss and Damage Dialogue 2025 to be held from 11-12 August at the same venue in Samoa.
The inaugural Pacific Youth Dialogue on Loss and Damage and the Pacific Regional Loss and Damage Dialogue 2025 are made possible with funding support from the Loss and Damage Capability and Capacity (LDCC) Project with the Government of New Zealand.
Hosted by Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the dialogues bring together Pacific governments, youths, civil society, academia, NGOs, and the private sector to collectively advance the region’s priorities on Loss and damage.
This story was produced by the Pacific Media Team covering the meetings. Their attendance is made possible with funding support from the Loss and Damage Capability and Capacity (LDCC) Project with the Government of New Zealand.
For more information, please contact SPREP Climate Change Adaptation Adviser, Ms Filomena Nelson [email protected] , SPREP Climate Change Loss and Damage Officer, Ms Jessica Rodham [email protected] or Media and Public Relations Officer, Mr Keni Lesa [email protected]