Page 26 - IB FEB 2018

Opinion

Interconnected: The technical and ethics in a warming planet

request was granted.
Apart from his position
of influence, the moral
authority of Pope Fran-
cis would amplify our
By Dame Meg Taylor regional climate change
advocacy from a different
SINCE assuming the mantle of Secretary dimension, that of social
General of the Pacific Islands Forum Sec- justice. In November last
retariat, I have been committed to cham- year (2017), Pacific Is-
pioning inclusivity in many aspects of the lands Forum Leaders met
Secretariat’s work. Inclusivity ensures a with Pope Francis in the
variety of perspectives in dealing with Vatican on their way to
issues dear to us as Pacific peoples and COP23 in Germany.
as a region. Inclusivity also builds owner- In a first for the Pacific
ship and empathy - which are both key to Islands Forum, the Pacific
strong advocacy on all fronts. delegation comprised 38
For the Pacific region, our advocacy on members, representing 11
climate change and its impacts has been of the 18 Forum members
built, in most part on the impacts that we and four CROP (Council of Nauru President Baron Waqa meets Pope Francis
are facing today. Our Leaders have been Regional Organisations
and remain strong advocates in interna- of the Pacific) agencies.
tional fora on this issue. I acknowledge As the head of one of the
in particular, the work of the late Tony De largest Christian denomi-
Brum, former Minister for Foreign Affairs nations in the world, Pope
and Climate Change Ambassador for the Francis exudes a humility,
Republic of the Marshall Islands, and a sincerity and warmth
former President of Kiribati Anote Tong - that leaves a lasting im-
who have become synonymous with the pression on you. Leaders
Pacific’s advocacy on climate change and took the opportunity to
its drastic impacts to our livelihoods and share with the Pope gifts
wellbeing. from the region which
2017 presented an opportunity for our were received with warm
region when Fiji was elected to assume curiosity and delight.
the Presidency of the 23rd United Nations It was a meeting of like-
Framework Convention on Climate Change minded leaders: a group
(UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP of Presidents, Prime
23) in Bonn Germany. It was an invalu- Ministers and Heads of
able opportunity to amplify the Pacific’s Pacific regional agencies
priorities on Climate Change Action and on their way to advocate Deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa of Samoa meets Pope Francis
in acknowledgment of this, Pacific Leaders for increased, responsible
were in Europe to support Fiji’s Presidency. global action towards addressing the damage humanity has wreaked on the
Reflecting on this opportunity and aware impacts of a warming planet - meeting earth system. Two years earlier, (June
of the head of the Catholic Church, Pope one of the most progressive faith leaders 18, 2015) Pope Francis had published
Francis’ keen interest in climate change of our time. Laudato Si: On care of our common home,
and his strong social justice position for The Pacific delegation had three spokes- his second encyclical.
those who were already feeling the im- persons: the incoming Chair of the Pacific Pope Francis and Forum Leaders spoke
pact of climate change, the Forum Chair Islands Forum and President of Nauru, His the same language, drawing attention
and Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Excellency Baron Waqa; the Prime Min- to how humanity was systematically
Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi and I discussed ister of Cook Islands, Honourable Henry destroying the planet, and appealing to
the possibility of securing an audience Puna who spoke on our ocean continent our sense of responsibility and empathy.
for Pacific Leaders with Pope Francis on - its potential and its challenges; and the Laudato Si stresses the singularity of the
their way to Germany. With the support Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Honourable human family, emphasising the intercon-
of the Pacific Cardinals: Cardinal Ribault Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas who spoke on nectedness of our existence, underlining
of Papua New Guinea and Cardinal Mafi the issues of inequality and human rights. that the consequences of local actions do
of Tonga, along with the commendation The Forum Leaders were in good com- not necessarily remain local.
of the Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand, pany, addressing someone who was as The encyclical calls out human behav-
Archbishop Martin Krebb, the Pacific’s equally passionate about reversing the iour bereft of responsibility of ones’ ac-

26 Islands Business, February 2018