PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill attends Climate Change talks in Paris

The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea,  Peter O’Neill has attended the opening of the United Nations COP-21 Climate Change Summit in France today, and concluded the meeting saying there is optimism at the table for a successful outcome.

Following the conference, that was attended by more than 150 leaders from around the world, officials from all countries will now work together on finalising the conference outcomes.

PM O’Neill said the negotiations are now in the hands of officials working at a technical level after leaders presented their perspectives on the opening day.

The PM presented the following statement during the meeting. 

'Mr President,

Firstly, let me take this opportunity in joining the rest of our leaders in expressing our sympathy to the families, and people of France, over the senseless loss of life in the recent tragic events in Paris.

Today I speak as both the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, and as the Chair of the Pacific Islands’ Forum.

Our country, and our Pacific Islands’ community, have already seen people displaced, and people dying, because of climate change.

Pacific islands who are threatened by climate change, are running out of time for world leaders to develop workable solutions.

These solutions must be agreed in Paris today. They must be obtainable, they must be meaningful and they must be enforceable.

Sadly, Papua New Guinea is home to the world’s first climate refugees - where people of the Carteret Islands have already been forced from their homes because of rising sea levels.

Right now there are entire Pacific island nations facing extinction – some of these countries will be gone within our lifetime.

Their people will become refugees, losing tens of thousands of years of culture and tradition.

These countries, like any other people in the world, have a right to exist.

In the Pacific, lives are being lost to extreme drought and frost, and the most devastating tropical storms in recorded history strike each year.

This ongoing disaster must be stopped, and support be given to the victims of climate change so they can rebuild their lives.

We, in this room, have the power to do so.

The time for talk is passing the world by, we must act now to save lives and protect communities.

We must set targets and plans for action to reduce emissions.

It will not be good enough if countries walk away from Paris without a firm agreement being reached – particularly when we know that there is momentum and goodwill to reach that binding agreement.

The countries of the Pacific Islands Forum are seeking a legally binding agreement – that sets a temperature ceiling of well below 1.5 degrees celsius.

We must all do our part – big and small nations.

Mr President,

Papua New Guinea is a nation of 8 million people, and we are seeking to go beyond our size in fighting global warming challenges.

Papua New Guinea supports a Paris Agreement that anchors the REDD Plus Mechanism and its accompanying decisions.

This is one of the most cost effective mitigation options available to the world.

Papua New Guinea is committing millions of hectares of our forest for the REDD Plus initiative – and taking part in the reforestation of hundreds of thousands of additional hectares.

Papua New Guinea is one of the few countries in World that has legislative framework tso we can combat the climate change challenge.

Mr President,

We in the Pacific Islands did not cause climate change – but our people are dying and losing their homes because of it.

The effects of climate change are real, and we remind the global community, particularly the developed nations, that there is a moral obligation for us all to act.

The time has come for the international community to live up to the expectations of all our people, across many nations.

Today the world is watching, they are wanting wanting a strong and decisive leadership.

Let us deliver that to our people.

Thank you.