Climate Change Resilience
By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Paris amplifying the Pacific Voice at COP21
1 December, 2015, Paris, France, COP21 - Nations displaced by climate change have the right to exist and communities affected properly compensated to rebuild their lives.
That's the appeal by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill who spoke on behalf of the 16 member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum at the COP21 High Level Leaders session on Monday.
"Right now entire Pacific nations are facing extinction and these countries will be gone within our lifetime. Their people will become refugees losing thousands of years of cultures and traditions," said PM O'Neill.
In his own country, communities are threatened by climate change.
"Sadly in PNG, we are home of the first climate refugees where in Carteret Islands, people have been forced to leave their homes because of rising sea level. The time for talk is over – we must act now to save lives and protect communities," said the PNG head of government.
He said COP21 outcome that is expected to be legally binding and ambitious need to ensure that support is given to victims of climate change so that they can rebuild their lives.
"We, as world leaders have the powers to do so.
"Lives are also being lost in the Pacific through extreme drought and frost and through devastation of tropical storms every year.
"COP21 must provide solutions for 'our peoples' in the Pacific who are at the frontline of climate change.
"These solutions must be obtainable, meaningful and enforceable. It will not be good if we walk away from Paris without an agreement. The whole world is watching us," said Peter O'Neill.
For its part, Papua New Guinea, with a population of 8 million people, is doing all it can to combat the challenges of climate change.
"PNG supports the Paris Agreement to include REDD + mechanisms and accompanying decisions. It is the most effective mitigation options available to the world.
"We are committing millions of hectares of forests for REDD + Initiative and taking part in the reforestations of hundreds of thousands of hectares of land for REDD +."
Papua New Guinea is the current chair of the Pacific Islands Forum. - #4PacIslands
1 December, 2015, Paris, France, COP21 - Nations displaced by climate change have the right to exist and communities affected properly compensated to rebuild their lives.
That's the appeal by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill who spoke on behalf of the 16 member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum at the COP21 High Level Leaders session on Monday.
"Right now entire Pacific nations are facing extinction and these countries will be gone within our lifetime. Their people will become refugees losing thousands of years of cultures and traditions," said PM O'Neill.
In his own country, communities are threatened by climate change.
"Sadly in PNG, we are home of the first climate refugees where in Carteret Islands, people have been forced to leave their homes because of rising sea level. The time for talk is over – we must act now to save lives and protect communities," said the PNG head of government.
He said COP21 outcome that is expected to be legally binding and ambitious need to ensure that support is given to victims of climate change so that they can rebuild their lives.
"We, as world leaders have the powers to do so.
"Lives are also being lost in the Pacific through extreme drought and frost and through devastation of tropical storms every year.
"COP21 must provide solutions for 'our peoples' in the Pacific who are at the frontline of climate change.
"These solutions must be obtainable, meaningful and enforceable. It will not be good if we walk away from Paris without an agreement. The whole world is watching us," said Peter O'Neill.
For its part, Papua New Guinea, with a population of 8 million people, is doing all it can to combat the challenges of climate change.
"PNG supports the Paris Agreement to include REDD + mechanisms and accompanying decisions. It is the most effective mitigation options available to the world.
"We are committing millions of hectares of forests for REDD + Initiative and taking part in the reforestations of hundreds of thousands of hectares of land for REDD +."
Papua New Guinea is the current chair of the Pacific Islands Forum. - #4PacIslands