By Evan Wasuka, Solomon Islands One News TV
Copenhagen 12 December - The vice president of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), which includes all Pacific Island countries say developed nations must do good on their pledge to provide financial support to developing countries on climate change.
Cape Verde Ambassador Monterio Lima says the developed nations have caused climate change and they must pay the price.
“We didn’t put the rubbish in the atmosphere but we are the first to suffer. They must clean it up.”
Lima says developed countries have yet to finalise the amount of money they will giving out but he says this needs to be done urgently.
“I’ve heard around $7billion maybe – its not enough but it’s a start,” the diplomat told reporters at a press conference organized by non governmental organization 350.org.
His comments follow the launching of the AOSIS’s proposal for a legally binding agreement at Copenhagen.
Key to the proposal is the call by AOSIS to reduce the level of carbon in the atmosphere from 389pm to 350ppm.
The AOSIS proposal provides the toughest restriction for industrial countries and will be the subject of negotiations over the weekend.
The founder of environmental and anti-poverty group 350.org described the text as the first attempt to follow what scientists have been saying.
“This is the first rational attempt to do what needs to be done,” says Bill McKibben.
Meanwhile non governmental organizations have taken action with vigils being staged around the world to mark the launch of AOSIS’s text and a call for world leaders to accept the proposal.
On Saturday a march will take place from Denmark’s Parliament to the Bella Centre – the venue of the UN Climate Talks – where South African Archbishop – Desmond Tutu will hold a vigil.
Lima says world leaders should accept the proposal, if not future generations will be forced to pay the price. AOSIS is made up 43 countries from around the world including Pacific Island countries.
The grouping has so far given developed countries the toughest line on reducing emissions.
“We are not negotiating economics , we’re not negotiating business, we are negotiating our survival.”
Some of those countries will disappear if we go beyond 1.5 degrees in global warming, he says.
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