Page 19 - IB Nov 2017

Climate change Relocation All talk, no action: P22
Energy strategy Big plans in the isles: P23

AVIATION ADVERTORIAL Islands Business
Renewed commitment

By Dame Meg Taylor

PACIFIC Leaders presented a united
stance on the pressing need for ac-
celerated and ambitious global action
on climate change as they joined world
leaders recently for the 72nd Session of
the United Nations General Assembly.
The Leaders spoke passionately on
behalf of our island communities, with
Fiji’s Prime Minister Bainimarama, who
assumes the Presidency of the 23rd
Conference of Parties (COP23) to the
United Nations Framework Conven-
tion on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull and his PNG counterpart, Peter O’Neill, share a moment at the Samoa Forum.
November, reiterating that at present Photo: Nic Maclellan
“climate change is as great a threat to leadership role in the UN’s work on pathway through 2020 that strengthens
global security as any source of conflict.” sustainable ocean management and the ocean-climate change nexus.
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister conservation. The COP23 meeting in November
Peter O’Neill spoke of lost lives and Secretary-General Guterres confirmed must deliver on operationalising the
devastated communities, of humanity’s support from the UN system in ensuring Paris Agreement through the Imple-
future threatened, and the absolute that the outcomes of the inaugural UN mentation Guidelines/Rulebook, by
need for reduced emissions if we are to Oceans Conference held earlier this year designing an inclusive process for the
effectively address challenges posed by would be brought to COP 23 in Bonn. Facilitative Dialogue in 2018, and with
a warming planet. This is in line with one of Fiji’s COP23 the provision of finance to implement
Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Enele So- presidency priorities to pursue a way nationally determined contributions
poaga, reflected on island communities forward on strengthening understand- (NDCs).
already at the risk of being submerged, ing of the interconnection between our These are critical if we are to address
who face losing everything, if the world climate and our oceans. issues that are crucial for our countries,
fails to achieve the “well below 2 degrees such as the temperature goal of 1.5
Celsius” of global warming advised by COP23 degrees Celsius, and loss and damage.
scientists. COP23 will be an invaluable opportu- To fully capitalise on the opportunities
Solomon Islands Prime Minister, nity for Pacific Islands Forum Leaders to of what we regard to be a ‘Pacific COP’,
Manasseh Sogavare reiterated a call build on the momentum that led to the we must continue to work together.
for major emitters to reduce their emis- Paris Agreement, and which remains a The Pacific Islands Forum Secre-
sions, and a reversal of the decision by significant milestone of Pacific advocacy tariat and key regional agencies such
the United States of America to back on the global stage. as the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional
out of the Paris Agreement. Led by the At the 48th Pacific Islands Forum Environment Programme (SPREP),
Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Prime Leaders meeting, held recently in Sa- the Pacific Community (SPC) and the
Minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Sailele moa, Forum Leaders expressed their University of the South Pacific (USP),
Malielegaoi, Forum Leaders met with support towards Fiji’s COP23 Presidency will continue to work closely to support
the United Nations Secretary General and acknowledged Fiji’s five key priori- our member countries over the com-
Antonio Guterres in the margins of the ties for its term, namely: (1) facilitative ing weeks, to ensure the preparations
General Assembly. dialogue; (2) implementation guidelines leading into COP23 are useful and run
Secretary-General Guterres acknowl- and the Paris Agreement rulebook; (3) smoothly.
edged the expeditious ratification of gender, local communities, and indig-
the Paris Agreement by Pacific coun- enous peoples platform; (4) adaptation Continued overleaf
tries, and commended their continuing and loss and damage; and (5) an Oceans web link:
www.islandsbusiness.com
Islands Business, November 2017 19