“We the Pacific” amplifying the Pacific voice at COP21

“We the Pacific” amplifying the Pacific voice at COP21

1 December, 2015, Paris, France, COP21 - The message was loud and clear from the Pacific islands at the “We the Pacific” dialogue forum in Paris at the UN Climate talks today. The Pacific islands are counting upon the rest of the world to ensure their survival and limit global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The event coordinated by the Pacific Island Development Forum and the Pacific Island Climate Action Network brought together the President of Kiribati, Anote Tong; Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Enele Sopoaga, the Secretary General of PIDF Francois Martel, the Minister of National Disaster Management of Fiji, Inia Seruiratu and Ms. Talissa Koteka representing the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands.

It was to a packed room at the AOSIS (Alliance of Small Islands States) Pavilion that the high level panel shared their message – asks that are clearly spelled out in the Suva Declaration stemming from the Third Pacific Island Development Forum held in September this year.

“I know there is a debate of whether it should be 1.5 or 2 degrees but for those of us who have a great deal to lose are calling for global warming to be reduce to below 1.5 degrees,” said President Tong at today’s event.

“There are some aspects of the climate change negotiations that are simply not negotiable. I need to go back and tell my people that I have a solution to your problems, you will no longer lose your homes.”

This was reinforced by Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga a former diplomat and negotiator for the small island nation on climate change, who said, “The current 2 degrees target is to save the economies of rich nations and is less ambitious. The Pacific cannot accept that.”

Fiji, home to the PIDF Secretariat and host of the third PIDF conference resulting in the Suva Declaration has had to relocate 40 communities and have identified another 800 that need to be relocated in the near future due to the impacts of climate change, as shared by Minister Inia Seruiratu at the dialogue event today.

“Climate change is not something that we expect down the track, it’s already happening and therefore for us to come here to Paris we are fighting for our basic human right to life.”

Talissa Koteka representing the Cook Islands Prime Minister at the event reminded all that the emissions of the Pacific islands are negligible – while they have not caused the climate change problems experienced they are the victims of its effects.

“I believe that we can and are taking a leadership role in coming up with solution, however, these solutions will not amount to the total sum of contributing to the good of our world, if the collective will of the world is lacking.”

We the Pacific dialogue forum was hosted on Day 2 of the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at the AOSIS Pavilion in Paris, France. It was coordinated by the Pacific Island Development Forum in partnership with the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, supported by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). - #4PacIslands

President Obama hears concerns of Pacific and Caribbean leaders

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Paris amplifying the Pacific Voice at COP21

1 December, 2015, Paris, France, COP21 - President Anote Tong of Kiribati and a number of leaders from the Pacific and Caribbean have met with United States President Barack Obama, in an attempt by both Parties to explore options on key negotiating positions of small and vulnerable nations at the frontline of climate change.

The meeting on the margins of the COP21 conference in Le Bourget was ‘useful’ according to President Tong.

The three Pacific Leaders invited to the talk, Kiribati, Marshall Islands and Papua New Guinea – put to President Obama the need for ‘loss and damage’ and the global temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees’ in the proposed Paris Agreement.

Speaking at a side event organised by the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN) and the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF), President Tong said they emphasised that Article 5 Option 1 on Loss and Damage will not be compromised.

“They (the US) assured us of some commitments but the details needs to be worked out,” said President Tong.

Tuvalu’s Prime Minister, Enele Sopoaga in support of on-going exploratory meetings with the US, said ‘some understandings have been reached but that will not mean a trade-off of 1.5 global goal for loss and damage.’

“We will need to work out these details with the US negotiators in the coming days,” explained Prime Minister Sopoaga.

The Tuvaluan leader was not in the meeting with President Obama but has been in close contact with senior US Government officials including Secretary of States, John Kerry on the negotiating positions of Tuvalu and other Pacific Small Island Developing States.

In his statement at the side event, the Tuvaluan leader, who is a former diplomat and negotiator for the small island nation on climate change, said, ‘The current 2 degrees target is to save the economies of rich nations and is less ambitious. The Pacific cannot accept that.’

“Even 3 degrees is a blow-up and that will sink my island.

“Can we allow COP21 to do that? We will not allow them to trade with our loss and damage and 1.5 degree goal,” said PM Sopoaga.

He urged other Pacific Leaders here in Paris ‘not to sing out of tune, but sing the same song in the coming days.’

“We have been singing the same song from Rio to Kyoto to Paris. We need to take the song out of this room and chorus with others in the coming two weeks to hammer out a legally binding & ambitious climate deal.”

There is already some discussion on the possibility of relegating Loss & Damage to decisions from Paris instead of the main Agreement because of the Warsaw Implementation Mechanism (WIM). WIM is to be reviewed at COP22 next year.

“Why not make WIM permanent in the Paris Agreement,” asked the Prime Minister of Tuvalu.

Oxfam and Christian Aid, two prominent civil society groups following the negotiations say there is a real possibility that the US and rich nations will work at pushing Loss & Damage to decisions of the COP only.

“This is an uphill battle for small island nations. It is a David vs Goliath fight between small island nations and the might of the US and other rich nations,” said Mohamed Adow of Christian Aid.

Currently, there are two options on Loss & Damage chapter – for an international compensation mechanism (option 1) and the removal of Loss & Damage from the text (option 2). Option 2 is being supported by the US and other developed countries.

“The question is will the US and rich nations budge from their position during the negotiations,” said Tim Gore of Oxfam International.

Negotiations on the adaptation and Loss & Damage which forms part of the text of the Ad Hoc Committee of on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) is now underway.

President of COP21, the Foreign Affairs Minister of France, Laurent Fabius has asked negotiators from all Parties to ensure the ADP text is ready by nextWednesday 09 December before it’s endorsed and presented to the Conference of Parties on Friday - #4PacIslands

PNG pleads for the rights of countries to exist and compensated if displaced by climate change

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Paris amplifying the Pacific Voice at COP21

1 December, 2015, Paris, France - Nations displaced by climate change have the right to exist and communities affected properly compensated to rebuild their lives.

That’s the appeal by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill who spoke on behalf of the 16 member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum at the COP21 High Level Leaders session on Monday.

“Right now entire Pacific nations are facing extinction and these countries will be gone within our lifetime. Their people will become refugees losing thousands of years of cultures and traditions,” said PM O’Neill.

In his own country, communities are threatened by climate change.

“Sadly in PNG, we are home of the first climate refugees where in Carteret Islands, people have been forced to leave their homes because of rising sea level. The time for talk is over – we must act now to save lives and protect communities,” said the PNG head of government.

He said COP21 outcome that is expected to be legally binding and ambitious need to ensure that support is given to victims of climate change so that they can rebuild their lives.

“We, as world leaders have the powers to do so.

“Lives are also being lost in the Pacific through extreme drought and frost and through devastation of tropical storms every year.

“COP21 must provide solutions for ‘our peoples’ in the Pacific who are at the frontline of climate change.

“These solutions must be obtainable, meaningful and enforceable. It will not be good if we walk away from Paris without an agreement. The whole world is watching us,” said Peter O’Neill.

For its part, Papua New Guinea, with a population of 8 million people, is doing all it can to combat the challenges of climate change.

“PNG supports the Paris Agreement to include REDD + mechanisms and accompanying decisions. It is the most effective mitigation options available to the world.

“We are committing millions of hectares of forests for REDD + Initiative and taking part in the reforestations of hundreds of thousands of hectares of land for REDD +.”

Papua New Guinea is the current chair of the Pacific Islands Forum. - #4PacIslands

‘Protect oceans’ alliance

By Samisoni Pareti, Editor in Chief, Islands Business Magazine in Paris amplifying the Pacific Voice at COP21

1 November 2015, Paris, France, COP21 - Three Pacific island countries of Fiji, Kiribati and Palau have added their support to a European initiative that promotes the impact of climate change on oceans.

Prince Albert II of Monaco is spearheading the initiative which has the support of 11 countries that included the three Pacific nations, as well as Aruba, Canada, Chile, France, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand and Sweden.

Under this initiative, the group has signed into the ‘Because the Ocean’ declaration, which among other things calls on the United Nations’ panel of climate scientists known as the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change to produce a specific report about the impact of climate change on the ocean.

They also want to promote an ocean action plan as well as reaffirm their commitment to reinforce ocean resilience by working to meet the UN SDG (sustainable development goal) 14, which is to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

In line with this, Sweden has agreed to help Fiji host a high-level UN conference on oceans and seas to be held in June, 2017, all aimed at promoting the implementation and maintaining political momentum in the achievement of SDG goal 14.

The grouping feels the ocean needs to take central stage in negotiations to finalise a new global agreement on climate change that started in Paris this week, given the key role oceans play in our climate. The ocean sustains life on earth and our collective well-being, the gouping’s ‘Because the ocean’ declaration stated.

“It produces half the oxygen every human being breathes. It also absorbs 25% of all the CO2 emitted by human activities, it captures approximately 90% of the anthropogenic heat added to the global system, and it receives nearly all the water from melting ice,” said the Declaration released to journalists covering the COP 21 negotiations.

The Declaration added focusing on ocean resilience is vital because it is:

• central to economic wealth, with an estimated contribution of between US$3-6 trillion per year to the global economy. 90% of globally traded goods are transported by sea; fisheries provide 4.3 billion people with more than 15% of the animal protein consumed, and coastal areas provide crucial services for local communities

• already experiencing significant stress, now aggravated by increased CO2 concentrations liable to seriously affect marine life. Carbon dissolved in the Ocean alters its chemistry, already driving acidity up by 30% since the beginning of the industrial revolution

• warming, causing irreversible damage to coral reefs and other ecosystems and species, stronger storms, changes in sea currents, including accelerating the spread of invasive species

• rising of sea level, and we must anticipate that millions of people are at risk of being displaced especially in low lying areas and Small Island States

Signing of behalf of their countries, the ‘Because the ocean’ declaration has been initialed by Prince Albert II of Monaco, President of Kiribati Anote Tong, President of Palau Tommy Remengesau, Minister in charge of Ecology and Sustainable Development of France Ségolène Royal, Minister of Environment of Canada, Catherine McKenna, Minister of Cooperation and Development of Sweden, Isabella Lövin, Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture of Fiji, Inia Seruiratu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chili, Heraldo Muñoz, Minister of Regional Planning, Infrastructure and Integration of Aruba, Oslin B. Sevinger, Director General of National Environment and Climate Change Institute of Mexico, Dra. Amparo Martínez Arroyo, and on behalf of New Zealand, the deputy permanent representative to OECD, Rebekah Riley. - #4PacIslands

A message to the world from the Cook Islands at COP 21

1 December, 2015, Paris, France, COP21 - “We may be a small country but we believe in big actions, We did not cause the problems of today, but we want to be part of the solutions,” said the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Hon. Henry Puna as he presented before the world at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris.

Over 150 leaders from across the globe met in Paris, France to demonstrate their support to save the Planet through a new climate change agreement. The form of this is to be finalised by the end of the two weeks of negotiations. The Cook Islands are uniting with the Alliance of Small Island States and are calling for a legally binding agreement that limits global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“We need action now. Action that needs new, additional, predictable and accessible finance. Action that needs to address loss and damage from the adverse effects of climate change. Action that allows us all to adapt to the consequences of this threat. We need action now.”

The Cook Islands have indicated their spirit of solidarity and resilience through their actions. With the help of development partners the island nation has converted 50% of their islands to renewable energy with plans to complete this conversion 100% by 2020.

“We have designated our entire 2.2 million square kilometres of Exclusive Economic Zone as a marine park, for the benefit of not only our people, but as our contribution for all of mankind, through our share of the Pacific Ocean carbon sink.”

“We aspire to do more as we have outlined in our submitted INDC.” (Intended Nationally Determined Contribution)

The leader of the Cook Islands ended his statement to the world with an impassioned plea, calling for all to win the battle against climate change in solidarity and united as a global family.

“We cannot delay. We must not delay. The time for action is now.” - #4PacIslands

Children of the Earth

Blog by Ms. Brianna Fruean, SPREP Youth Ambassador attending the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, France from 30 November to 11 December, 2015.

“Today I witnessed one of the most beautiful things at Day2 of COP 21. The opening of the indigenous peoples pavilion that showcased cultures and traditions from all corners of the world, from the Arctic all the way to Samoa had me overwhelmed.

Speakers spoke about indigenous people in the forefront of Climate Change and our ability as people who have a spiritual understanding of the land to lead change. This opened my eyes to the fact that one of the smartest ways forward for adaptation and mitigation of climate change for traditional societies is marrying technology, science and traditional knowledge together. Going back to our roots to find solutions.

My Pacific Island brother from Tokelau told the jam-packed pavilion today the story of the coconut and how it represents sustainability of the islands as it provides leaves that thatches homes, juice that quiches thirst and flesh that fills the stomach. He reminded the room that indigenous societies are the pioneers of sustainability and together with the rest of the world we can take methods of the past to ensure a better future for not just our earth but our children’s earth.

I am not a history student but I now understand the importance of looking at yesterday to get a better understanding of tomorrow. The best part of today was that it wasn’t just me who was overwhelmed by this indigenous peoples event as I could hardly finding standing room to watch, I just stood near the back popping my head over others and saw the hopeful look on people’s faces that there is hope at COP 21 and hope is one of the most beautiful things of all”. -#4PacIslands

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