Greenpeace calls for consistency in Marshalls on climate change

Transcript

Greenpeace is calling on Pacific Island countries to be consistent on their Climate Change stand at the international level.

The call comes following Marshall Islands push for the International Maritime Organisation to introduce measures to reduce carbon emissions in the industry.

Marshall Islands Foreign Minister Tony De Brum's call was rejected at a recent IMO meeting despite it representing the country's massive Shipping Registry which is the third largest in the world.

A senior Greenpeace Oceans Campaigner Lagi Toribau says Marshall Islands needs to be consistent and take marshall islands flagged oil tankers and oil rigs off its registry.

LAGI TORIBAU:  In early June last year we presented a case to the Marshall Island government to the president and his cabinet on this very issue outlining our concern and how the international community might look at the Marshall Islands having double standards in that policy where on one hand they are demanding for changes in the climate change negotiations at the international level, but at the very same time issuing their flag to the operation of such activity and companies that are responsible for climate change.  We did raise this to the attention of the Marshall Island government and they did take it into serious consideration and we have been in ongoing discussion with the government since then.

KOROI HAWKINS:  And there is some particular focus on the oil rigs, a couple of Marshall flagged oil rigs in the Arctic region, why is that?

LT:  The Arctic region is strategically in an important area for our global climate.  One of the highlights and concerns that we specifically mentioned to the Marshall Island government is that according to the latest science, even if we were to have a 50 percent chance of meeting the two degrees target which is essentially what most scientists are saying, let alone a 1.25 degrees.  We actually need to save over two-thirds of all the non-reserves in the Arctic, so they must actually remain under ice.  So the very fact that there are oil drilling activities in they're taking out fossil fuels and sources of  hydrocarbon in the Arctic, diminishes the chance of us curbing the climate change.  We believe that the Marshall Islands have a very important role to play in how the Arctic region is also safe.  Hence the fact that they are issuing flags to oil rigs that are drilling in the Arctic, we believe is a contradiction to that position.

kWh:  And the Marshall Islands, probably building on your talks with them, have gone to the international marine organisation or Maritime organisation and called for all ships or for the international shipping community to start also looking at reducing their emissions.  These were turned down but do you think this was a positive step in redeeming this feature or do you think it is sort of posturing while they continue to flag ships and oil tankers and oil rigs.

LT:  We in fact are very much in support of the Marshall Islands' proposal that they put forward to the International Maritime Organisation and I guess we have to commend their effort in trying to use the fact that they are the third largest registry to bring some level of control and also a contribution by the shipping industry and how we regulate the current debacle that we are in on the climate.  One of the things that I think we have also requested of the Marshall Islands is that we need to look at this on a more broader level.  We don't think that it is quite strategic for them to be picking and choosing where they put their position or for carbon emission.  We think that their position on the International Maritime Organisation is just as important as their role in flagging oil rigs.  Certainly it is just as important in the UNF triple C, (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), negotiations for instance.  We believe the more that they can look at this in its entirety and the way that Marshall Islands wants to position themselves as a leader in climate change requires them to also be consistent with the way that they are positioning themselves internationally.

KH:  And there is a lot of emphasis being put on international meetings and reducing carbon emissions at the global stage but do you think there is enough being done within local Pacific communities to prepare them for their mitigation practices, for their adaptation practices.  Is there enough emphasis or equal emphasis to all the conferences and seminars and hoopla that is going on at the international level?

LT:  Yeah.  I don't believe that there is a shortage of international support.  I don't believe that there is a shortage of attention of what the region needs in terms of adaptation and I certainly believe that there is now a greater awareness amongst our fellow brothers and sisters in the Pacific on the role of climate change in our day to day lives but also I guess understanding now who are those that need to be held responsible.  I think that's the new dynamic that we are seeing now in the Pacific and certainly this is what we hope, that the international community can start to be more focussed on who are actually responsible for global carbon emissions and these are the players that we need to hold them accountable to.