Anna Rasmussen (Samoa)
{{Short description|Samoan climate activist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Anne Rasmussen
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| known_for = Chief negotiator for small island states at COP28
| education = University of the South Pacific
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| nationality = Samoan
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Anne Rasmussen is a Samoan climate expert from Samoa. At the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) she was the chief negotiator for the Alliance of Small Island States.
Life
Rasmussen was brought up on Samoa which is a country made up of six small Pacific islands. She studied geography at the University of the South Pacific and graduated. She went on to gain a post graduate qualification in climate change.{{Cite web |title=Pacific Women in Climate Change - meet Anne Rasmussen, Samoa {{!}} National Advisory Board |url=https://www.nab.vu/pacific-women-climate-change-meet-anne-rasmussen-samoa |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=www.nab.vu}}
In 2009 she first became involved in representing her country in climate negotiations and by COP18 in 2012 in Doha, she was co-chairing meetings.{{Cite web |title=Samoa to remain in seat on COP Bureau {{!}} Pacific Environment |url=https://www.sprep.org/news/samoa-to-remain-in-seat-on-cop-bureau |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=www.sprep.org}} At COP24 she began leading the negotiations on climate finance, the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). In 2022, at COP27 she was a vice-president organising the election of officers of regional groups for the climate negotiations process.{{Cite web |title=2022 summaries of consultations|url=https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/election-and-membership/2022-summaries-of-consultations-with-the-chairs-and-coordinators-of-regional-groups |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=unfccc.int}}
At COP28 she was the Chief Negotiator for AOSIS. Samoan minister Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, of the Alliance of Small Island States was arguing for stronger recognition, saying that AOSIS "would not sign their own death certificate".{{Cite web |title=We will not sign our death certificate: Toeolesulusulu |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/107133 |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=Samoa Observer |language=en}} On the final day the AOSIS group discussed the final agreement. There was concern that the proposed text contained too many loopholes. Consensus was agreed at and the AOSIS group moved into the hall where the decision was to be made. They were shocked to find that the decision had been made without them. Tina Stege noted that the agreement represented an improvement but it was insufficient to save her country - the low lying Marshall Islands.{{Cite web |title=Tina Stege: We put our heart and soul into climate negotiations . . . it's about survival for us |url=https://www.ft.com/content/949c3b6d-4fb0-4df6-95fa-467057c8a536 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=www.ft.com}} Rasmussen spoke about the "litany of loopholes".{{Cite news |last=Harvey |first=Fiona |author-link=Fiona Harvey |date=2023-12-15 |title='The future is renewable': How a huge gamble sealed Cop28 deal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/15/fossil-fuels-how-a-huge-gamble-sealed-cop28-deal |access-date=2024-05-19 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} She complained that they were "not in the room" and that the "business-as-usual" agreement had not delivered the "course correction" that was required.{{Cite news |last1=Kerr |first1=Simeon |last2=Mooney |first2=Attracta |last3=Williams |first3=Aime |date=2023-12-13 |title=Countries reach 'historic' COP28 deal to transition from fossil fuels |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3ffd821c-6200-4808-b16d-ac9cb2207f11 |access-date=2024-05-20 |work=Financial Times}} She was given a standing ovation for her protest.{{Cite news |last=AP |first=Source |date=2023-12-13 |title='Litany of loopholes': Samoa delegate challenges Cop28 president on climate pact – video |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/video/2023/dec/13/litany-of-loopholes-samoa-delegate-challenges-cop28-president-on-climate-pact-video |access-date=2024-05-20 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
External links
- [https://www.flickr.com/photos/unfccc/53395004203/in/photolist-2pmkmuK-2pmkX5Y-2piZjYX-2pjXCXw-2pkvR8U-2pjJWw6-2pj5Zfp Rasmussen receiving a standing ovation]
References
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Category:Samoan civil servants