No More Hot Air - Pacific Voices Call For Action On Climate Change
As the world’s eyes turn to small island countries this week, Pacific voices are calling for serious action to avoid dangerous climate change.
Representatives from more than 100 countries are gathered in Apia, Samoa, for the United Nation’s Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The meeting is a once-in-a-decade chance for small island states to highlight their unique development challenges.
Speaking from Apia, convenor of the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN) Shirley Laban said world leaders need to take action now if Pacific island countries are to have any hope of avoiding potentially catastrophic climate change.
‘Unless we cut emissions now, and limit global warming to less than 1.5°C, Pacific communities will reap devastating consequences for generations to come’, said Ms Laban. ‘Developed countries need to reduce their emissions as soon as possible, and must make far stronger commitments than those currently on the table’.
Her comments came as the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon, called for world leaders to come together in New York (September 23, 2014) with bold new commitments.
Ms Laban said the international community needed to follow the example of Small Island Developing States. ‘Pacific islanders are strong and resilient, and we are adapting to the changes we are already experiencing,’ said Ms Laban. ‘We are also leading the way by taking action to reduce our emissions today. Leaders from all States must use this historic opportunity to inject momentum into the global climate negotiations, and work to secure an ambitious global agreement in 2015’.
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