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May 22, 2009
STATEMENT BY H. E. PRESIDENT LITOKWA TOMEING.
PALM 5 HOKKAIDO
Climate Change and Environment
May 22, 2009
Prime Minister Taro Aso, Distinguished Leaders of the Pacific Islands and Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Last year in Niue, Forum Leaders acknowledged the importance of Japan’s Cool Earth contribution towards focusing resources on climate change.
In specific terms, members were encouraged to establish partnership with Japan with a view to seeking assistance in the areas of mitigation and adaptation.
The overall perspective was to enter into meaningful engagement with Japan and other major economies in order to achieve post 2012 climate change regime in both emissions and reductions and economic growth.
I take this opportunity to thank Japan, in its capacity as a responsible member of the Pacific region, for its generous offer and commitment embodied in the Cool Earth Initiative.
A month later, as a follow –up to the Niue Declaration, at the Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands called upon the international community to wage war on climate change.
Almost 2 years ago to date, the former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo declared at a dinner reception in Tokyo on the subject of climate change that “Now is the time for action.”
Mr. Chairman, I am deeply convinced, and on this I need no persuasion, that the time for action has come.
I say this because I believe that all the realities that we need to know with respect to the effect on climate change on the small island states of the region, are already a matter of common knowledge.
We know developing countries are already suffering and affected by the onslaught of climate change. Of these, small island states are the forefront victims .
We know from our own experience that our development gains are at great risks. Our agriculture and food production are, in some cases, near crisis level as a result of sea- level rise and underwater intrusion.
We know the culprit is climate change.
We know too that for every meter in sea-level rise, the consequences are dire, spelling an end to our very existence.
In short, extreme vulnerability of small island states is now a complete certainty by any measure. By any measure of certainty too, our adaptive capability to the tsunami of climate change is small and our margin for strategic survival is very slim indeed.
When low-lying island states such as Tuvalu, Kiribati, Tokelau and the Marshall Islands for that matter, have been termed in some news media as environmental refugees in search of alternative locations, one begins to wonder whether prolonged discussions on mitigation and adaptation are of any meaning anymore.
What options are there left for us but to run for life!
It is in this context Mr. Chairman, that I urge my colleagues and our Japanese friends that while we continue to sustain an all out war on climate change, and give all that we can in support of international and national mitigation measures, this gathering should also lay down the basis for the formulation of a sound and realistic framework for action on adaptation.
The sense of urgency in view of the magnitude of the problem calls for a framework that is fast- tracked and accelerated, and with clear direction and objectives, and outcomes.
A framework that takes into account the need also for an accelerated shift in social and economic behavior- a regulated departure from the use of conventional fossil fuel to the more environmental friendly sources of energy.
A shift from the use of energy sources from the dark bowels of the earth and all their adverse impacts to above-ground sources- of wind, solar, and water and all their clean and healthy effects.
Mr. Chairman, we take comfort in this regard because of the fact that Japan is the world’s foremost leader in the field of innovative technology, a role I am confident Japan can and should be able to contribute most significantly.
The Marshallese people and Government applaud Japan’s contribution to the Marshall Islands and to the Pacific islands countries. I take this opportunity to assure Japan of our commitment to issues of regional and mutual interests, and the continuing friendship between our two countries.
Kommol tata.
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