Page 24 - IB AUG 2018

climate change
The resolution will be based on the
Warsaw International Mechanism for
loss and damage associated with climate
change impacts, including extreme events
and slow onset events.
Loss and Damage Mechanism fulfills
the role under the United Nations Con-
vention on Climate Change of promoting
implementation of approaches to address
loss and damage associated with the
adverse effects of climate change in a
comprehensive, integrated and coherent
manner.
The final said his country and other Pacific atolls
Speaking in Tuvalu in June, Sopoaga
were suffering the consequences of the
carbon emissions of large nations.
“We must have a system in which the
solution polluter pays – we cannot let them off the
hook and we must continue to espouse
this position,’’ he said.
Also on Sopoaga’s agenda is an in-
Migration not the answer ternational convention of the treatment
of people displaced by climate change
events.
Current conventions do not allow for
to rising sea levels the classification of people displaced by
climate-induced conditions to be labelled
refugees or to receive the assistance or
access to services and shelter afforded to
Calm before the storm ... a young Tuvalu girl enjoys a hammock ride in Funafuti. Photos Invictus victims of conflict.
“The 1951 UN convention on refugees
Instead, the event became a showcase makes no reference to climate change
for Fijian culture and its national develop- so our people will not receive rights and
ment plan. recognition under this mechanism,’’ So-
No consultations were held prior to poaga said.
the summit with the leaders of the atoll “We must protect them and their rights.
communities who stand at the frontline With help of ambassadors in New York we
By Netani Rika of climate change – rising sea levels, are gaining ground and the (resolution)
disappearing coastlines, salt water intru- text should be finalised soon.
CLOSE to a year after COP23 in Bonn and sion into water tables, drought and loss “Hopefully the UN will do the right
the Pacific-led talks on climate change, of crops. thing and adopt a convention or resolu-
atoll communities are no closer to a solu- Even during the three-week COP23 tion to protect people affected by climate
tion to the danger posed by rising sea event, consultation and discussion be- change – especially children, women and
levels. tween Pacific delegations was virtually the elderly.”
According to the United States Geologi- non-existent, despite approaches from Sopoaga acknowledged that work had
cal Survey most atolls will be uninhabit- Tuvaluan Prime Minister, Enele Sopoaga, been done on an international compact
able by 2030. to the presidency. on migration but stressed that this was a
If that is true in the Pacific, Kiribati, Tuvalu’s diplomats reported to their PM non-binding document.
Tokelau, Tuvalu and the Republic of the that Bainimarama drank yaqona (kava) “So we need to step up our actions, built
Marshall Islands will no longer exist in with actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and resilience and ensure that large polluters
just over a decade. Even if they will ex- sent Agriculture Minister, Inia Seruiratu, pay so that small atoll states can put in
ist, it is unlikely that they will be able to to meet Sopoaga. place mitigation measures,” he said.
support human habitation. Faced with limited options, Sopoaga “We are not running away, Tuvalu will
Yet the global community has made no enlisted the support of former Kiribati not give up. It is easy to take a defeatist
significant progress to enact laws or con- President, Anote Tong. approach but migration will not solve
ventions which will allow for a possible Together, the men – now known at the climate change.
500,000 displaced people to receive justice Pacific’s climate warriors – fronted a sum- “Migration will be solved by lower
and move to host countries with dignity. mit on Funafuti to address the plight of emission levels and greater responsibility
Despite Fijian Prime Minister, Rear- small island states, particularly atolls, in towards the environment. We must fight
Admiral (Retired) Frank Bainimarama, the fight against global warming. hard to see that the promises made in the
assuming the chair of the world’s lead Sopoaga is intent on placing a resolu- Paris Agreement are kept and actioned.”
climate change event, no real progress tion at the 73rd Session of the United Na- Recently, Sopoaga addressed civil so-
was made to ensure that Pacific concerns tions General Assembly to protect people ciety in Tuvalu and encouraged them to
were placed at the fore in Bonn. affected by climate change. discuss practical and realistic solutions for

24 Islands Business, August 2018