11 December, 2019, Madrid, Spain - The tenth edition of the Emissions Gap Report developed by the United Nations Environment Programme tells us that greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise despite scientific warnings and political commitments.
It also outlines that countries must increase their ambitions in their Nationally Determined Contributions threefold to achieve the well below 2 Degrees goal and more than fivefold to achieve the 1.5 Degrees goal.
“We should recognise it for the horror that it truly represents, it is a scathing indictment of our global efforts to address the most urgent crisis facing humanity,” stated H.E Lionel Aingmea, President of Nauru during the High Level Roundtable during the first week of the Twenty-fifth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
President Aingmea referred to the outcomes of the Emissions Gap Report, released just before the COP25 during his address to world leaders in the High Level Roundtable, as well as the role of the young people of the world.
At the end of week one of the COP25, an estimated 500,000 people marched in protest with young people along the streets of Madrid, Spain uniting in their call for ambitious climate action, now. The voices of young people have been featured strongly at COP25, including at the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion, a feature of the UNFCCC COP25, through a number of different events in which Pacific youth are panelists sharing their experiences and expectations.
“As a leader of a Pacific island nation I am also not so naive as to think appeals to scientific reports will move the most powerful actors in the global economy, it is a political fight plain and simple, the fact is not lost on a growing youth climate movement led by our youth from around the world,” presented H.E Aingmea to the leaders at the High Level Roundtable.
“They understand the full implications of the science because they have the most at stake and they are seizing power on a platform calling for 100% renewable energy, net zero emissions, divestment from the fossil fuel industry and a new green deal. A younger generation is seizing power in democratic elections and in the streets demanding climate justice.”
With a population of just over 10,000 – Nauru is an isolated island in the Pacific region that is approximately 22 km2 within an Exclusive Economic Zone that is 430,000 km2 and alike other islands of the Pacific, it contributes to less than 0.006% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions but is amongst the most vulnerable to its effects.
“Ambitious climate action underpins our vision for sustainable development which will be reflected in our updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Nauru calls upon all nations to update their NDCs and for developed countries to raise their commitments to support developing countries so that our 1.5 Degree goal remains within reach. This is a global effort in which all nations can and must contribute to,” presented the President.
“The credibility of the Paris Agreement rests on a single question going forward – can it deliver ambition consistent with its stated goals? We have 12 months to give a positive answer.”
H.E President Lionel Aingimea was one of three Pacific islands people that spoke at the High Level Round Table during the first week of the Twenty-fifth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Also to speak at this event was the Cook Islands Prime Minister and the Ulu o Tokelau.
The event took place on 2 December, 2019. The UNFCCC COP25 is hosted in Madrid, Spain from 2 to 13 December, 2019.