Climate Change Resilience
By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor amplifying the Pacific Voice in Paris
4 December 2015, Paris, France, COP21 - The link between traditional knowledge and climate change adaptation and mitigation has been highlighted by the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu.
It's Minister for Climate Change, Jerome Ludvaune promised indigenous peoples from the Pacific and around the globe present at the Pacific side event at COP21 Thursday that his government will uphold and support the rights of indigenous people in sharing their traditional knowledge to address climate change.
4 December 2015, Paris, France, COP21 - The link between traditional knowledge and climate change adaptation and mitigation has been highlighted by the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu.
It's Minister for Climate Change, Jerome Ludvaune promised indigenous peoples from the Pacific and around the globe present at the Pacific side event at COP21 Thursday that his government will uphold and support the rights of indigenous people in sharing their traditional knowledge to address climate change.
Minister Ludvaune went a step further to reveal that Vanuatu supports Articles 2 & 4 of the proposed Paris Agreement to recognise indigenous peoples in communities and their traditional knowledge.
"Vanuatu will push that Articles 2 & 4 to be further strengthened. We want a strong and durable Paris outcome that has political support.
Minister Ludvaune on left
The Vanuatu minister said sustainable development can be realised in the Pacific, if governments adopt inclusive policies that includes indigenous peoples.
"My own country suffered from the most intense cyclone this year. Loss and damage caused by TC Pam represented 65 percent of our gross domestic product (GDP). It disrupted the livelihoods of our people especially our indigenous communities in rural areas.
"The resilience and traditional knowledge of our indigenous communities saved many lives and minimised damage during TC Pam, Minister Ludvaune shared at the side event.
Vanuatu, like other Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) is seeking an ambitious and legally binding agreement in Paris that includes the long term temperature goal of below 1.5 degrees, loss and damage as a stand-alone chapter and improvement to accessing climate financing.
Also speaking at the side event was Marshall Islands foreign affairs minister, Tony de Brum who clearly made the point that, 'when we in the Pacific say we are the frontline countries to climate change, the reality is that our indigenous communities are really at the frontline of the impacts of climate change.'
"I was recently asked to explain why ice melting in Artic where the indigenous Inuit people live, affects people in the Pacific? In my response I said that we were connected. The ice that melts from there reaches the shores of Kiribati, Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, said Minister de Brum. - #4PacIslands
"Vanuatu will push that Articles 2 & 4 to be further strengthened. We want a strong and durable Paris outcome that has political support.
Minister Ludvaune on leftThe Vanuatu minister said sustainable development can be realised in the Pacific, if governments adopt inclusive policies that includes indigenous peoples.
"My own country suffered from the most intense cyclone this year. Loss and damage caused by TC Pam represented 65 percent of our gross domestic product (GDP). It disrupted the livelihoods of our people especially our indigenous communities in rural areas.
"The resilience and traditional knowledge of our indigenous communities saved many lives and minimised damage during TC Pam, Minister Ludvaune shared at the side event.
Vanuatu, like other Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) is seeking an ambitious and legally binding agreement in Paris that includes the long term temperature goal of below 1.5 degrees, loss and damage as a stand-alone chapter and improvement to accessing climate financing.
Also speaking at the side event was Marshall Islands foreign affairs minister, Tony de Brum who clearly made the point that, 'when we in the Pacific say we are the frontline countries to climate change, the reality is that our indigenous communities are really at the frontline of the impacts of climate change.'
"I was recently asked to explain why ice melting in Artic where the indigenous Inuit people live, affects people in the Pacific? In my response I said that we were connected. The ice that melts from there reaches the shores of Kiribati, Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, said Minister de Brum. - #4PacIslands