Antinuclear

Climate Change theme for Pacific Islands Forum – Tony Abbott will not attend

Palau has joined leaders from other Pacific nations, including Marshall Islands and Kiribati, in publicly expressing disappointment with Australia’s climate change position.

Pacific leaders to discuss climate change, sustainable fishing during Pacific Islands Forum in Palau Hundreds of delegates from across the Pacific are arriving in Koror in Palau to discuss climate change, non-communicable diseases and protecting marine life. Australia Network News 28 July 14 The 15 members of the Pacific Islands Forum include several countries made up of atolls that barely rise one metre above sea level. They will be joined at the forum, running from July 29 to August 1, by observers from countries including the United States, China and India.

Palau’s President, Tommy Remengesau Jr., has declared the theme of this year’s forum to be ‘The Ocean: Life & Future’. The president’s press secretary, Keobel Sakuma, says the theme recognises the importance of oceans in everyday Pacific life. “Not only as a form of transportation and food security…but also because it connects many other issues, like climate change, NCDs, invasive species,” he said. “Everything that we’re being faced with today in the Pacific in terms of challenges relates to the ocean.”

Climate change

Last year’s Forum adopted the Majuro Declaration for Climate Leadership, which commits the countries to increasing their efforts to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions by turning to alternative, sustainable energy resources.

Mr Remengesau told the United Nations in January the impact of climate change was already being felt in Pacific nations.

“Climate change is causing the seas to rise at unprecedented rates, increasing the intensity of storms and threatening to wipe entire states off the map,” he said.

The Majuro Declaration has won support from the US, UK and Mexico, and was presented to UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon in September 2013.

“Pacific Islands are among those that contribute least to global warming, yet suffer most,” he said.

“I commend your resolve to be ‘Climate Leaders’ and I join you in your call to others [to lead through action].”

Palau has joined leaders from other Pacific nations, including Marshall Islands and Kiribati, in publicly expressing disappointment with Australia’s climate change position.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, during a visit to Canada, flagged he wanted to forge an alliance of like-minded centre-right governments to resist global moves towards carbon pricing, and in favour of more ‘direct action’ measures.

Mr Abbott announced last week he would not be attending to Forum due to the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in the Ukraine and other pressing matters.

Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss will instead lead the Australian delegation, along with Parliamentary Secretary Brett Mason.

Kiribati President Anote Tong said in June that Australia’s stand was likely to get “some, if not a lot” of attention at the meeting in Palau.

Mr Tong said as far as Kiribati was concerned, it no longer matters what Australia or any other country does, because it is already too late.

“What will happen in terms of greenhouse gas emissions levels agreed to internationally will not affect us, because our future is already here… we will be underwater,” he said………http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-28/an-pif-preview/5628208

July 30, 2014 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | General News