PNG, USA and Vulnerable Island Nations Look to Ambitious Global Climate Change Goals in Paris

The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Peter O’Neill and the President of the United States, H.E. Barack Obama, with leaders from vulnerable island states, have agreed that ambitious goals must be set at COP-21 in order to be truly effective in dealing with climate change. 

This common position was revealed at the multilateral meeting between the two leaders and the Presidents and Prime Minsters from Pacific Island and other countries that are facing significant risk because of climate change.

The meeting included the President of Kiribati, H.E. Anote Tong, the President of the Marshall Islands, H.E. Christopher Loeak, and the leaders of Barbados, the Seychelles and Saint Lucia.

PM O’Neill thanked President Obama for arranging the meeting with island nations and said he looks forward to further engagement on the important issue of climate change that is affecting many lives in the Pacific.

“The United States has a unique opportunity to take a leading role in discussion on climate change, and we appreciate the meeting we had today with vulnerable island states,” PM O’Neill said.

“At the Paris conference we need to set ambitious targets that all countries can aim for, and these must be targets that have real impact on climate change.

“Weak targets will not be enough and will only provide an excuse for some countries to not be proactive.

“This is the right time for ambitious targets as there are countries that are facing terrible risk and they need action now.

“There are nations that will cease to exist in our lifetime if we do not act, and as noted by President Obama, these countries have the right to exist just like every other country. [See attached transcript]

“We also need to realise that if the global community does not do enough, that hundreds of millions of people will be affected and not just smaller island states.

“This is a unique opportunity we have in Paris to really begin to deal with one of the biggest challenges facing the world today.

“It is important that we have a balanced outcome from this meeting.”

PM O’Neill also called for the establishment of an international fund to support endangered communities that can draw on existing functional structures.

“The damage is being done to small island communities and the intentional community has an obligation to help vulnerable nations.

“There are examples of support funds that are working already such as the global fund on health that is working in many nations.

“We need to establish a climate fund that is effective in that funds can be transparently accessed in a timely manner and it helps to rebuild communities.

“In the commitments made by the international community, priority must be given to the most vulnerable nations dealing with rising seal levels, severe droughts and extreme tropical storms.”