Despite Forum setback Island states maintain climate fight

Transcript

The battle for Small Island States to have their voice heard has not ended with the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Port Moresby.

The SIS group led by the Kiribati president and the Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga called for greater action on climate change from the developed nations of Australia and New Zealand at the meeting but failed.

ENELE SOPOAGA:  Of course we were aspiring strongly for leaders to have consensus on the 1.5 degrees cap.  I think there was a lot of effort from the Forum islands countries.  We would have loved a stronger commitment from our colleagues, Australia and New Zealand.

KORO VAKA'UTA:  The Small Islands States also called for a moratorium on mining, how far did that get?

ES:  Well we thought it was really important to signal out in the SIS leaders statement itself, where the leaders of the SIS group strongly advocated for that as a concrete step towards further reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions to reach 1.5 temperature.  Of course it was recognised in the Forum but we were expecting some stronger commitment.  Unfortunately that didn't come out in the main Forum statement on climate change.  

KV:  Do you feel that the voices of the SIS do get heard in the body of the Pacific Islands Forum meetings?

ES:  There is acceptance and there is recognition of the situation advocated by SIS leaders, particularly the particular, the unique vulnerabilities of many of the Small Island States to impacts of climate change to which they are already suffering.  Unfortunately it didn't manifest in the actual main Forum declaration.  We had wished for some stronger reflection of this.

KV:  Do you feel that the likes of New Zealand and Australia take your plight seriously?  You had of course the incident where Minister Dutton joking  about climate change, do you think that the issue, the subject is taken seriously by those developed nations?

ES:  That incident somehow has thrown in the broad daylight I think the mentality of the leadership.  That incident, coupled with the attitude in the Forum discussions, are confirming a rather indifferent attitude.  This is very disheartening for Tuvalu.  It makes us think about all our talks about partnerships, genuine partnerships, friendships and care.  We are very, very disappointed.  We are not sure whether we would be in the position to be in partnership with any assistance from Australia if that's the attitude.

KV:  I guess the big news in terms of Australia, is there change in leadership, could that change anything?

ES:  Prime Minister Turnbull has a record of standing considerate positions in relation to climate change.  I think he is very progressive on that.  We are very, very hopeful that the change in leadership in Australia would perhaps give stronger leadership on climate change.

KV:  What next now with this climate change push from Tuvalu's perspective?  What is the next step for you guys in terms of getting your voices heard?

ES:  We are continuing work and I think in New York we are going to have side events, Tuvalu and some of our friends, particularly to further advocate our vulnerability reduction plan following Cyclone Pam that hit Tuvalu.  I am sure that other Pacific Island countries would want to take similarly the opportunities for the Sustainable Development Summit in New York to further advocate the concerns of small island countries of the Pacific.  We will be launching that side event in New York to underscore further the threat and the suffering that the people are already being inflicted upon by tropical cyclones, issues of water and food security on atoll islands. We are organising that on the 24th in the margins of the General Assembly meeting.              

KV:  You mentioned the disappointment that there wasn't a stronger statement from the Forum heading to COP21.  It's going to be even harder for the Small Island States to get their voices heard at COP21 too isn't it?  So what's the gameplan there?

ES:  Indeed.  I think the time now up until COP21 is very short.  I think we should exert every energy we still have to marshall alliances and strong coalitions with the like-minded countries.  I would also call on the new leadership of Australia to take advantage of this change and perhaps dialogue closely with the Pacific Islands Forum so we can solidify our position and avoid being thrown into another open battle and possible isolation and that.  So that we can go to COP21 after having ironed out a lot of differences, perhaps agreeing on a stronger position of 1.5 degrees Celsius and also financing for those affected countries.