Samoan Minister fears malaria from climate change

Cherelle Jackson, Environment Weekly, Climate Pasifika

Copenhagen, 17 December- Fears of new vector born diseases are imminent in Samoa as a result of climate change.  Minister of Health, Hon. Gatoloai Amataga Gidlow said climate change will threaten not just the environment but the health of Samoans.

"There is a growing fear of the introduction of malaria as climate change worsens," she said.  Gatoloai was speaking at an event hosted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to discuss the impacts of climate change on health at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change.

"I would like to highlight that like most developing island countries, we grapple with diseases such as dengue fever and typhoid, my fear of climate change is that these are going to be more common and prevalant."

Her fears of the introduction of new diseases and the increase in existing infections are shared by WHO.


Maria Neira, Director of Public Health and Environment says the impact on health is tremendous the world over.

"The human cost of climate change may be measured in the toll imposed by droughts, floods and heat-waves. The World Health Organization and climate change experts have warned of the adverse effects global warming has on air quality, food production, water availability and the distribution of infectious diseases."

For Samoa, fears of malaria are legitimate.

Caused by a parasite of the Plasmodium family, malaria is transmitted by the bite of a female anopheline mosquito.  The parasite infects human red blood cells, resulting in lysis of the red blood cell.  As the world heats up, ecosystems struggle to cope with the rapid ecological changes. Global warming trigger weather changes — which include but not limited to heatwaves and shift in wet and dry seasons of the Pacific.
Because the mosquitoes that carry the disease do not thrive in cooler climate some researchers have suggested a link between a rise in mosquito population and climatechange.  WHO suggests that a modest increase in temperature could lead to a population boom in mosquitoes and, therefore, malaria.

Gatoloai, Samoas Health Minister says Samoa cannot afford to have malaria or an increase of any other disease in the small island.

"We simply do not have enough Doctors and trained medical perssonal to cope with an influx in hospital admissions," she said.

Since 1988, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has reviewed scientific research in its most recent report, concluded that the average temperature of the earth's surface has risen by 0.6 °C since the late 1800s.  It is expected to increase by another 1.4–5.8 °C by the year 2100 – a rapid and profound change.  This according to WHO can only increase the threats on health.

Neira of WHO said: "Health systems have been protecting people from the hazards of weather and climate for years. Early warning systems, public education for behavioural change, disease control, disaster preparedness, mosquito control, food hygiene and inspection, nutritional supplementation, vaccines, primary and mentalhealth care, and training have been shown to reduce vulnerability to the effects of climate change."

Over 150,000 deaths annually are attributed to climate change, WHO says this number will no doubt increase with the rise in temperatures.

Soundbites@COP15: Tuvalu Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia

Ahimsa Kibikibi, PNG National Broadcasting Coporation, Climate Pasifika

Copenhagen, 17 December - Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia is standing firm and will not be signing any deal unless it is legally binding and promotes concrete commitments for deeper emissions reductions from developed countries, that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas levels down to safer levels.

At a final press conference before the climate change talks head into the last but crucial 24 hours, Mr Ielemia made it clear his country will not be accepting anything less.

He explains why.

Transcript:

“ It is now or never, we wait for next year or the year after or whatever year, to sign it, it is going to be more risky, to our people and to our islands.  You will hear from your part of the world, that our island nations have been destroyed by a tsunami or a strong wave, just over night.  You have seen how little our islands are.  The wave can just come from one side of the ocean to one side of the sea, so that's how dangerous our situation is and we are putting this forward at this very conference," he said.

Soundbites@COP15 - Dr Graham Sem, PNG

Ahimsa Kibikibi, PNG National Broadcasting Corporation, Climate Pasifika

Copenhagen, 18 December - As climate talks fast approach the end, the world ancticipates and asks - is a legally binding agreementanywhere in sight?

Climate Pasifika poses the question to Dr Graham Sem, who has been to 10 COP meetings, in his role as negotiator, adviser and his previous role in the UNFCCC.

Transcript:

"Everybody was saying that we will go to Copenhagen, we'll negotiate, we'll probably not get the deal we are looking for.  We'll probably agree to some kind of framework and then we will continue discussing and that could be one of the issues.  From my point of view, I think that will be a good option, because no deal is better than a bad deal."

No U.S pressure on AOSIS, Ambassador Williams

Makereta Komai, PACNEWS, Climate Pasifika

Copenhagen, 18 December - One of the leading strong advocates for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Grenada’s representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Dessima Williams has refuted claims that the United States is pressuring AOSIS to abandon its 1.5 degrees, the ceiling for global temperatures.
Ambassador Williams admitted that the U.S President, Barack Obama has spoken to her Prime Minister, Tilman Thomas to discuss the AOSIS position.

“My PM had conversation with President Obama Wednesday evening and indicated to him that all of the AOSIS position remains on the table.  President Obama did not indicate any areas that need ‘heavy lifting’ from AOSIS", Ambassador Williams told journalists.

Immediately after the press conference, Ambassador Williams and a group of AOSIS senior officials were scheduled to speak with major European countries to discuss the 1.5 degrees to stay alive position.  The European Union agrees that the global temperature must be below two degrees but has not put any specific number on the table.

"1.5 and 2 degrees are currently on the draft text now being negotiated, but there is increasing consensus for ‘below two degrees", said Yvo de Boer, UNFCCC executive secretary.

PM Thomas of Grenada, in his statement at the High Level Segment on behalf of the 43 AOSIS members, maintained that a Copenhagen climate deal must ‘proceed along a path that will restrict long term temperature increases to well below 1.5 degrees celsius above pre-industrialised levels.

INsideINsights@COP15 -- Lisa Williams-Lahari, Cook Islands

Pacific media freelancer Lisa Williams-Lahari talks about digital access, short term funding, and the powerplays that make UN meetings on climate change such a dynamic source of stories for newshounds."You don't just report on the frustrations and tensions here, you have to admit you are a part of it all, while trying to step back and do your job."
 

D-day: Leaders can still save Copenhagen, says WWF

 Makereta Komai, PACNEWS, Climate Pacific media
Friday 18 December 2009, COPENHAGEN--Leaders arriving to sign a Copenhagen climate agreement and finding that they now need to salvage it need to take a global rather than national approach to the numerous outstanding issues, WWF said today.
“It looks like The Copenhagen Climate Summit could have made it through the valley of death”, said Kim Carstensen, Leader of WWF’s Global Climate Initiative.
“It’s encouraging that some new offers are starting to hit the table. Now is the time for Heads of States to show their leadership skills. We need to turn the positive dynamic into a real domino effect, so that actions by countries add up to a global effort that protects us from climate change.” Carstensen said that after days of deadlock there was renewed movement on the long term climate financing issue. If the renewed finance discussion also leads to willingness for more ambition on emissions reductions targets, there could still be a Copenhagen climate deal with some substance.
“Europe has often claimed a leadership role on climate and now is the time to exercise it,” said Carstensen.

“A bold step forward on emissions cuts to 2020 – moving to at least the necessary 30% cut from 1990 levels – could be the deal making gesture the climate talks need at this point. The developing world would be able to see that some of the developed world is listening to their concerns.”

Carstensen said it was welcome to hear US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tell the Copenhagen climate conference that the US stands ready to do its fair share.
“US help in mobilising an additional $100 billion annually by 2020 to help climate change initiatives and adaptation in the developing world is also extremely welcome”, Carstensen added. However, we need to know that this is new and additional money and not a reshuffling or double counting of existing aid.”
To back up the positive signals sent to the international negotiations in Copenhagen, WWF calls on President Obama to make domestic climate and clean energy legislation his top priority. WWF hopes that positive moves by the US and the EU could also inspire China to up the ante. “The levels and conditions of transparency of emissions cuts in the emerging economies are another sticking point in Copenhagen that’s still clouded in silence” said Carstensen. “A move from China on this highly contentious issue could break a real deadlock.”--ENDS

Negotiations restart, less than 24 hours before a deal is signed

Makereta Komai, PACNEWS, Climate Pasifika

Copenhagen, 17 December - After almost 12 hours of deadlock in climate change negotiations in Copenhagen, talks resumed Thursday afternoon at ministerial level, as directed by the President of the Conference of the Parties (COP), Danish Prime Minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen.

Two contact groups were hurriedly convened to look at outcomes from the Ad Hoc Working group on Long Term Co-operative Action (AWG-LCA) and the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP).

The two working groups presented their draft outcome documents to plenary on Wednesday evening after COP was unable to convene for over six hours.

UNFCCC executive secretary Yvo de Boer was encouraged by the effort of the Danish PM to work out a deal through the political process.

“Hold tight and mind the door, the car is moving again, said de Boer

“Their deadline is this evening, and it’s only a matter of hours now that we have to come up with a document."

French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, in his country statement appealed to all the leaders of the different regions of the world to meet Thursday evening to bring about some political consensus at the highest level.

“We have less than 24 hours and we have to now consider a compromise text. We can have a working meeting this evening to push this stalled process forward", said Sarkozy.

The European Union and all its 27 members remain convinced that a deal can be sealed, only if China and the U.S sort themselves out.

EU President, Jose Manuel Barosso was optimistic that with the little time available, some consensus should be reached.

“In Rio, the agreement came at the very end after some dramas. We are disappointed with the slow pace of the negotiations but we must not under estimate the progress made in the last two years"

“I am optimistic that we can still reach a deal by Friday (18 Dec) as planned", said Barosso.

Similarly, the U.S Secretary of States, Hillary Clinton is hopeful for a successful outcome here in Copenhagen.  She has been tasked by President Barack Obama to give political leadership to the U.S negotiation team, led by its special climate change envoy, Ambassador Todd Stern.

“After years of diplomacy, we now have to make a decisive decision to provide the foundation of a sustainable world.

“We have now reached a critical juncture in these talks. We understand the talks have faced some difficulties but we are working around the clock to forge a deal", said Secretary of State Clinton.

“We must now reach for common grounds and take the historic step to sign a deal that the world is waiting for. It’s not about us versus them or these groups against another group."

However, she insisted that China and other developing economies must step up and make meaningful reductions.

“China needs to commit to transparency, especially after Bali where developing countries agreed to allow for transparency. That is a deal breaker for the United States, especially now when we are trying to define, observe and implement transparency."

“To back away now undermines the whole process", Clinton said.

The U.S will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 17 percent below 1990 levels, 30 percent in 2025, 42 percent in 2030 and more than 80 percent by 2050.

Responding to calls for commitments to long term financing, Secretary Clinton today announced her government’s intention to raise $100 billion annually from 2020 for adaptation and mitigation.

“The U.S is prepared to work jointly with other developed and developing countries to mobilise 100 billion by 2020. Funding will come from public and private groups, bilateral and multilateral donors and from other alternative sources."

Oxfam International welcomed Secretary Clinton’s announcement of financial resources of $100 billion dollars a year by 2020.

“Support for poor countries cannot be left to the whims of the markets. It is absolutely crucial that this money comes from public sources and is additional to current aid commitments.

“If new and guaranteed climate finance is put on the table, it will help move these fracturing talks closer to a global deal on climate change, said Oxfam.

Earlier, China signalled an operational accord out of reach. Now China's climate change ambassador says China has not given up hope for a deal.

China no longer sees a possibility of achieving an operational accord to tackle global warming this week at the UN climate conference, Reuters reported.

The official said that China instead suggested issuing “a short political declaration of some sort.”

Beijing wants a deal that capture all progress achieved over two years of UN-led negotiations and leave room for swift progress on unresolved areas next year, according to a Chinese official…..ends

Kiribati@COP15: On the frontline of climate change catastrophe

Statement by H.E President Anote Tong, of Kiribati

Mr. President
Excellencies
Distinguished delegates
Representatives of Civil Society Groups and
Fellow Citizens of this Planet

Our gathering here is indeed an unprecedented historic event. Never before have so many world leaders been mobilized into action to deal with what has become the most significant challenge facing humanity.

Two years ago the Bali Action Plan began the process of formulating a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol, in response to the damning report of the IPCC on the state of our planet. Our negotiators have worked extremely hard and tirelessly and we must pay tribute to them for their perseverance over the years. However, it remains true that as of this morning several issues remain unresolved and the likelihood of any agreement seems remote.

Mr President,
We are aware that you, together with Friends of the Chair, the Secretary General and several Leaders have worked extremely hard in the corridors and behind closed doors to ensure that an outcome is reached here in Copenhagen. I believe that most, if not all of us, have come to this event with the expectation that we will return with an agreement in the bag – an agreement that is binding; an agreement that unequivocally guarantees the futures of our children and their children.

Mr President,
We, from the low lying small island states who represent the most vulnerable, have been calling for world attention to focus on this disaster for many years. However, it was only through recent developments including the findings of the latest Assessment Report from the IPCC, the initiatives of decisive world leaders such as Mr Gore, and timely interventions by the UN Secretary General earlier this year, which have put in perspective the true nature of the threat facing our planet and all who live on it. During the High-Level Climate Change Summit in New York in September, I was most encouraged by what I saw as an acknowledgement by world Leaders of the reality and the full implications of the problem facing us. However, I am somewhat sobered by the apparent lack of consensus here at Copenhagen, in particular by some of the more disappointing

Statements made during this Conference. In spite of that, we must remain optimistic that a positive outcome will be reached here in Copenhagen. The future of our people and indeed the rest of humanity will be determined by our action over the next few days. We have not come here as observers to see what happens. And I hope we have not come all this way only to see the adoption of future plan of action which will result in the demise of our people. It is my sincere hope that we have come here as Leaders to provide the leadership needed to change the course of climate change; to make decisions that will guarantee the survival of the most vulnerable.

Mr. President,
The science on climate change is very clear. The severity and the urgency of the threats posed by climate change may not be the same for each of the countries represented here, but the direction is unquestionably the same. Time is running out for some of us, so it is imperative that we act now. If we cannot achieve our objective of a legally-binding agreement this week, then we must at least have an accord that mandates the conclusion of such an agreement by no later than the middle of next year, and that incorporates the key components thereof. Where there are gaps in the numbers put forward by our negotiators, let the science and our collective conscience be our guide on what future course of action to take. We ask that clear commitments be made on mitigation and adaptation programs, in particular the funding components. We need fast track financing to address the more urgent adaptation needs of the most vulnerable. Much detail needs to be filled in, but let that not stand in the way of reaching agreement in principle that will be meaningful and will help restore confidence to those who look to us for leadership.
Mr. President,
Trust and sincerity are indispensable factors in this process – the absence of which may have been major contributing factors to the lack of progress in these negotiations. It is also important that the process be an inclusive one – one that ensures the involvement of all countries, including Taiwan, who have the capacity to make significant contributions to addressing the problem. We acknowledge that the positions put forward represent the best deals for different groupings, interests and countries. But the issues on the agenda are much too important to the future of humanity to allow our differences to dominate the outcome.

Mr. President,
As a Leader of a country on the very frontline of this climate change catastrophe, I wish, on behalf of the people I represent, to thank you and all who have contributed to what I desperately hope will be a positive outcome from this conference. I also take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to those members of Civil Society, religious organizations, youth and all who have demonstrated that they care, and who remain supportive at this critical moment.

Thank you.

A colourful week - COP 15 in photos

Nanette Woonton and Rachna Lal explore the week that was through the digital lens: view slideshow with captions

COP15 held hostage by world politics:Q and A with Ian Fry, Tuvalu

 Lisa Williams-Lahari and Geoffrey Smith
Thursday 17 December 2009, COPENHAGEN--The sound of hours ticking by are becoming more urgent , the frustration more palpable as Pacific negotiators and leaders eye the gap between the '1.5 to stay alive' bottom lines to a climate change agreement, and the need to 'seal the deal' here in Copenhagen. We caught up with Tuvalu's Chief Negotiator Ian Fry.

TRANSCRIPT:
LWL: What are you going to do tomorrow if at the end of it all,coming all these miles, with all these leaders in the room, and we just get gven a list saying take it or leave it?
Ian Fry: That's not for me to decide. We have our Prime minister here and that's for him to decide how we conclude on that. Do we stay?Do we sign on to something that's pathetic or do we walk away?That's not for me to decide.

LWL: Ian it's less than 24 hours before we seal the deal. Are we really here to talk about revealing the deal given the tone of what we've been hearing?
Ian Fry:Well we've obviously got a lot of problems. Tuvalu's has brought forward a legal text to b considered at this meeting. Six months ago we brought forward proposals for a Copenhagen protocol and amendments to the Kyoto Protocol and we haven't established a process to even consider that text. So we seem to be going around in circles trying to avoid the real issues that're on the table.

LWL: So has COP15 really just been about a matter of sacrificed process?

Ian: No, we're still hopeful even in the last hours of the meeting that we can at least grab something that will come out of it. But we are very worried that it will just pass on to another meeting that we really not going to have a substantive conclusion at this meeting.

LWL:There's some talk that the arrangement is you agree to meet within the next 6 months and it all depends on the US senate. Should that even be something that we're looking at here?

Ian Fry: Well this is an unfortunate state of world politics that we being held hostage by what's happening in the US congress-- that decisions of the world are being held up by the US and that's very unfortunate. This issue is much too important for Pacific island countries who want something to happen now but unfortunately we are being held hostage and that's very, very, unfortunate.

LWL: Being held hostage and yet from the tone of many of the Pacific leaders in the plenary, it all seemed like it was just another UN meeting.
Ian Fry: Well yes but we have to come to some sort of conclusion. This is a UN meeting.This is an international process. The countriesof the world, the leaders of the world, they come to this meeting to come and reach a conclusion on how to address climate change and that's very important. So it's a UN meeting, but it's a very important UN meeting and we have to work on the basis of these sorts of meetings.
LWL: So still a glimmer of hope there?

Ian Fry: Well we hope so. I mean we still hoping that we can still get something out of this to guarantee our future but it's getting less and less likely as the hours move on.--ENDS

Tuvalu PM Fights for Survival of his People

Rachna Lal, USP Journalism, Climate Pasifika

Copenhagen, 17 December - For vulnerable countries like Tuvalu, the COP15  is a meeting for survival and not a business meeting.  Apisai Ielemia, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu says they have been pressured over the last few days to accept 2 degrees as their target.

“We came to this meeting with high hopes and we will not walk out of Copenhagen having had signed any deal which is more than 2 degrees,” he said. 
According to Ielemia, there have been attemps for meetings with developed countries, to encourage them to water down their proposals to endorse 2 degrees.

“I do not know about the other countries, but I do know that Tuvalu will not give in to their demands.  Our proposals have been swept under the carpet and this is not how UNFCCC should be working.”

He demanded for a just and fair system where the vulnerable parties as well as the developed countries could come together and work on an agreement together with equal contributions.

“Leaders who are pushing for 2 degrees should already know from the science about what will happen to the small countries if we sign a deal for more than 1.5 degrees,” he said.

Prime Minister Ielemia believes there is no more waiting for another conference as the decision for the survival of the vulnerable needs to be made here in Copenhagen.

“If not now, then by the time a deal is agreed upon in later conferences, you will be hearing from this part of the world that a whole island nation on the other sided has been completely swallowed up by a tsunami or hurricane.”

“We are making so much noise for major emission cuts and that is because we also have the fundamental rights to live amongst you.” --ENDS

Pacific Voices @ COP15: David Sheppard, SPREP Director

Geoffrey Smith, Fiji TV, Climate Pasifika

Copenhagen, 17 December -



Transcript
SPREP Director David Sheppard

We've done our best to put a clear message through to all of the delegates relating to the urgency of the need for action in relation to the Pacific Island countries and territories that climate change is affecting livelihoods and that al of the countries including developed countries need to listen to this voice.

They need to give support for adaptation and mitigation in a practical way.

The challenge always the Pacific and also as part of AOSIS as part of the Alliance of Small Island States have argued for a very strong legally binding instrument from this COP15.

It appears that this is going to be very difficult because of entrenched positions of different parties but the Pacific still maintain the view that we need the strongest possible legal action, we need the strongest possible support to help the people and islands of the pacific to adapt to this major threat of climate change.

Agriculture and Climate Change: Real Problems, False Solutions

Ruci Mafi, SPC, Climate Pasifika

Copenhagen, 16 December - Agriculture is a major contributor to climate change, a report revealed at the 15th Session of the Conference of the Parties in Copenhagen, Denmark.

A report on “Agriculture and Climate Change: Real Problems, False Solutions” said that about 35 percent of greenhouse gas emissions came from non-energy emissions, 14 percent were nitrous oxide and methane from agriculture, 18 percent from land use change mainly from deforestation for agricultural purposes, although there is a high margin of uncertainty.

“Those figures do not include large emissions from soil carbon losses, including peat degradation and peat fires,” the report said.

Citing examples the report made mention of the United States food system which accounts for some 17 percent of its energy consumption.

“There are some scientists who believe that the above figures for emissions from livestock may be a gross

Under estimate and methane has a much greater short term warming impact than is suggested by calculating its impact over a century, as is commonly done,” the report said.

At the same time, the impacts of climate change on agriculture are already serious.

The report was published for the Conference of the Parties, COP15, of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen and was prepared by NOAH - Friends of the Earth Denmark, and The Development Fund Norway December 2009.

“Seasons and weather are becoming increasingly unpredictable and extreme.”

“This can lead to major losses as farmers no longer know what or when to plant,” the report said.

If climate change continues unabated, the increasing extremes could lead to the collapse of whole agricultural regions.

“Climate change also disrupts and alters pest and disease patterns, posing risks to agriculture everywhere.”

It is widely accepted that industrial agriculture has had destructive impacts on climate, ecosystems, soil, water and biodiversity resources.

In many quarters, including the UNFCCC itself, further intensification of industrial agriculture is now proposed as part of the solution to the problems of climate change.

Tetepare Island goes REDD in the Solomon Islands

Evan Wasuka, Solomon Islands One Television, Climate Pasifika 
Copenhagen, 17 December - Tetepare Island in the Solomon Islands has the unique distinction of being one of the world’s largest uninhabited islands.

 
In a country dominated by logging its 12,000 hectares of virgin forests is a rarity and the island has been managed as a conservation area by a local organization the Tetepare Descendants Association.

On the other side of the world Tetepare, is once again breaking new ground by gaining the endorsement of the Solomon Islands government to be the country’s first pilot project for the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation otherwise known as REDD.

Although no national framework is in place for REDD the association will move ahead to prepare the groundwork for Solomon Islands eventual participation in the initiative.

The director of the Solomon Islands Community Conservation Partnership Keyvan Izadi says the Tetepare Island project which has been ongoing since the 2002 has the natural attributes to become a REDD project.

“We feel this is a ready made project for accessing carbon investment,” Izadi told reporters at a press conference in Copenhagen.

The Solomon Islands Minister for Environment Gordon Darcy Lilo says his government has given its backing to Tetepare because it is a “win-win situation,” both for the conservation of forests and for the economic return islanders can get out of the carbon trade.

“This will empower local communities to be part of the solution to the global climate crisis,” said Lilo.

Currently the carbon trade is occurring internationally on a voluntary basis.

The REDD initiative will offer developing countries a chance to save their forests in return for carbon credits which can sold to developed countries.

Solomon Islands is among the countries at the UN Climate talks that are backing REDD to be included in the final agreement at Copenhagen.

“This project will protect the ecosystem of one of the unique islands in the Pacific,” said Lilo.

Tetepare is 144 square kilometers in size and is one of the remaining large unlogged islands in the Solomon Islands.  Allan Tippet Bero of the TDA says the islands natural resources are in tact and undisturbed including its marine life.

He says Tetepare inclusion in REDD would continue to conserve the islands resources.

“There can no more powerful response to climate change than a grassroots response…this project will be sustainable because it is the community that is supporting it," said the environment minister.

“We are not passive victims of climate change we can be part of the solution."

Pacific Voices @ COP 15: Dr Al Binger, Scientist AOSIS

Geoffrey Smith, Fiji TV, Climate Pasifika

Copenhagen, 17 December -As negotiations stall at the 11th hour with time fast running out, frustrations are slowly boiling over.

At least one leading member with the Alliance of Small Island States has described the deadlock over various versions of a draft texts as nothing short of disappointing.

Dr. Al Binger summarised for us just how stalled talks are now beginning to take its toll on negotiators.

Transcript

Absolutely nothing. The only thing happening here is that the weather is getting cold and everybody is getting pissed off.

Well it may be surprising to some people but to most of us this is what we kind of figured that this would be the outcome.

Im surprised that some of the parties who should be more constructive havent been more constructive. But its a total disappointment.

Soundbites@COP 15; Youth from PNG and the Solomon Islands

by Ahimsa Kibikibi, PNG National Broadcasting Corporation, Climate Pasifika 

Copenhagen, 17 December - Papua New Guinean, Rebecca Asigau, representing youth in the Pacific region at COP 15 hopes there will be a youth climate movement or body established soon in her country to advocate on climate change issues.


Ms Asigau told Climate Pasifika she cannot really speak on behalf of all PNG youth but in attending her first COP meeting this has been a real eye opener for her, a climate change intern.  



Transcript: ' I am here to learn so that I can be a really good asset to my country, to educate and formulate measures,' she said.

Ms Asigau is with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition-Project Survival Pacific. 

Solomon Islands youth reprsentative, Christina Ora told a press conference, climate change is not a dream.



Transcript: ' I wish that climate change is just a dream, is just a bad dream and that sooner or later, we'll all wake up and laugh about it, but it is reality and it affects us all. Are we going to join our hands together, a global effort and stand up to the biggest environmental issue, facing us?  We need this deal, it is for survival. 

Call for marine component into climate change text

Ahimsa Kibikibi, PNG National Broadcasting Centre, Climate Pasifika

 

Copenhagen, 16 December - Negotiators in Copenhagen have been called on to give attention and act on threats climate change poses to the marine environment, particularly coral reefs, fisheries and ultimately food security.

Indonesia and Solomon Islands ministers, made the call on behalf of the “Coral six countries” at the Climate Change talks when presenting a joint communiqué on oceans and climate change at the first Oceans Day at COP 15.

“Oceans play a critical role but climate variability has become one of the greatest threats to the survival of the Coral Triangle”, Solomon Islands Environment minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo said.

 “I'd like to call upon all parties here at COP15 to support the adaptation and mitigation measures put forward by the six CTI countries,” Indonesia’s environment minister, Fadel Muhammad said.

The Coral Triangle Initiative is an ambitious sub region, marine conservation program that covers the coastal environments and coral reefs of Malaysia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste, Solomon Islands and Indonesia.

It is often referred to as the ‘Amazons of the Seas’as it is the epicenter of marine life, holding more than 75% of the known corals and over3,000 species of fish..

The Gizo joint communiqué, signed last month highlights the importance of marine resources to the livelihoods of more than 240 million people and notes a high concern over sea level rise and the increase in ocean temperatures and acidity,

But most importantly calls for the inclusion of a marine component within the negotiation text of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The Coral Triangle Initiative is being implemented with support from a number of international partner organizations, such as Conservation International, the Global Environment Facility, the Nature Conservancy and the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Pacific Voices @ COP 15: Brief plenary contribution by Tuvalu, Ian Fry

Geoffrey Smith, Fiji TV, Climate Pasifika
Copenhagen, 16 December 





Transcript

There is a feeling of dread that we are on the Titanic and sinking fast.

But we cant launch any lifeboats because a member of the crew has decided that we are not sinking and that we have to have informal consultations to decide whether we are sining or not

Its time Madam President to launch the lifeboats and its time to save this process.

Let us consider the legal text that is on the table and and move forward.

Pacific Voices @ COP 15: Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Edward Natapei

Geoffrey Smith, Fiji TV, Climate Pasifika
Copenhagen, 16 December - Vanuatu Prime Minister Edward Natapei anticipates that come Friday, COP15 might just surprise even its biggest sceptics.

Vanuatu has one of the fastest growing populations in the Pacific of around 3.6 percent against a total land area of not more than 12,274 square kilometers on which just over 210,000 people are scattered across Vanuatu's 2 volcanic islands.

PM Natapei says while the momentum is now well and truly building as leaders step up to the mark, he knows for the Pacific, compromising could be tantamount to displacement.




Transcript
We came in with specific ideas and we were hoping to come away with a legally binding agreement and it seems to be the subject of negotiations.

So we are going to have to continue to negotiate up until the very last minute.

If we can be successful in securing some sort of understanding and agreement with the big powers by the end of the day it all depends on how things unfold over the next day or so.

Pacific Voices @ COP 15: President of Kiribati, Anote Tong

Geoffrey Smith, Fiji TV, Climate Pasifika

Copenhagen, 16 December - One of the smallest island states attending COP15 remain hopeful of a successful outcome even with the odds stacked heavily against it.

With a scattered population not more than 110,000 people across its vulnerable 32 coral island atolls, Kiribati President Anote Tong says while the signs don't look good now, he has no choice but to remain optimistic.

 

Transcript

I hope something that would guarantee our survival is the minimum that will be achieved, lets hop that we can achieve this.

I think the developments don't appear to give us a great deal for optimism but I don't think we should give up, I think we should continue to persist and try and achieve something. We have no choice. 

We cannot go away without reaching an agreement.