Climate change cracks appear at Pacific Forum

Transcript

While leaders have talked of solidarity, cracks have appeared at the Pacific Islands Forum over the subject of climate change.

Representatives from the 16 forum member countries have gathered in Port Moresby to address issues concerning the region, but there are a number of conflicting positions, particularly when it comes to Australia and New Zealand's stance on climate change.

Koro Vaka'uta reports from Port Moresby.

Small islands states have called for a global moratorium on new coal mines, which may struggle to get the backing of the wider forum, while the group's also joined the regional chorus for a reduction in emissions so that global temperature increases don't exceed 1.5 degrees over pre-industrial levels. More developed countries like Australia and New Zealand have targeted 2 degrees in the past. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says he is comfortable with his country's stance and position on climate change. However the President of Kiribati, Anote Tong, says the Pacific Islands Forum could split over the climate change issue as he says there needs to be a uniform position to take to the global UN climate change COP21 meeting in Paris later this year. His Palau counterpart Tommy Remengesau echoes his sentiments, saying the time for talk has ended and that urgent action is needed which would require greater unity.

TOMMY REMENGESAU:  This is the challenge facing regionalism is what can we do that brings out the most good for everybody, especially when it comes to matters of life and death and survival, sustainability. Those issues are the very reasons why there is a Pacific Islands Forum. If you don't believe in those then there really should be no solid effort here.

Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi concedes there is frustration amongst Pacific nations.

TUILAEPA SAILELE MALIELEGAOI:  All the Pacific islands are always frustrated because you are not talking about small changes. You are talking about survivability because if climate change is not stopped and the obvious occurs like a rise in sea level, a lot of the countries in the Pacific would just disappear.

Niue's premier Toke Talagi says while there are differences, those differences are understandable.

TOKE TALAGI:  Every country has the right to express their view about climate change. We must accept and respect the fact that each country will have their own differing circumstances in relation to economies and so on. This is the same as Niue so therefore I don't have any problems with New Zealand and Australia having a slightly different view.  

Tuilaepa agrees that there are differences but he doesn't expect animosity to develop between the various nations.

TUILAEPA SAILELE MALIELEGAOI:  We talk like brothers and that's why we call our exchange, retreat - you can swear at one another and no one knows.

Tuilaepa says he still hopes a consensus can be reached on climate change at this year's forum.