Forum members clear on Climate Change

From Left: New Zealand Prime Minister John Key Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neil and Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott during the press briefing on Thursday after  the Leaders retreat.   

By FIDELIS SUKINA

The issue of climate change has not changed much with affirmations from 14 members of the Pacific Islands forum to keep the level of the global temperatures below the 2% mark.

With much debate during the Leaders retreat on Thursday at the Grand Papua Hotel in Port Moresby chairman of the Pacific Islands forum and Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Peter O’Neil said they were united as a region when it came to Climate Change.

“One of the major declarations done was on current and projected impact of climate change our countries have limited capacities very much seen through challenges faced by smaller Island Nations We have as a region declared that to increase 1.5 degrees Celsius would cause more problems would so we   as leaders urge that we will go to Paris COP21 meeting conference with that declaration.”O’Neil said

Australia and New Zealand present during the leaders retreat expressed their efforts to be more helpful to Pacific Islanders and reduce their global emissions Tony Abbot Australian Prime Minister was quick to defend their stance on climate change alluding to the fact that both countries will be lowering emissions but with no new promises bought to the forum.

“No additional commitments from Australia and New Zealand but as you know we are very ambitious with New Zealand’s target of 30% and Australia’s target of 26% to 28% for emissions reduction targets Australia’s target is the most ambitious target in that of developed countries.”

“we can get emissions down and we can be constructive are being we can be constructive global citizens when it comes to climate change without clobbering our economy with new taxes and new charges because none of us are in the business of damaging vital industries like agriculture in the case of New Zealand or resources in the case of Australia we must be good environmental citizens but we must also have strong economies for prosperity and jobs for our people.” Abbot said

Kiribati’s President He Anote Tong aid despite not agreeing at some point but he said there was no doubt smaller pacific Islands were feeling the effects of climate change.

“Centuries it remains a critical issue of survival it is not an economic issue and there is no doubt smaller Pacific Island nations with less than two meters of sea level are at most risk, we may not agree at some points but I would like to sit down as colleges with the Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand to accommodate a good decision” Tong said

 PIF forum chairman Peter O’Neil said not to point fingers and create divisions in the forum, after questions were raised whether Australia and New Zealand had the same stand on Climate Change with the 1.5 degrees Celsius issue

“We cannot say this country and this country are like this as a region we have made a decision and we will be bringing this to the COP meeting in Paris we will have this declaration but  other countries in the world will have  their own as well.” O’Neil said