Samoa happy with Rudds Kyoto move

Written by Cherelle Jackson Images: Newsline/Sydney Morning Herald
Sunday, 09 December 2007
Kevin Rudds decision to ratify the Kyoto Protocol is one that will have a tremendous impact on Samoa and the Pacific. This is according to the Prime Minister of Samoa, Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi. “The signature of Australia to Kyoto means that our fight against the impacts of Climate Change in the Pacific will be greatly improved,” he told the Samoan media. Tuilaepa says although the Howard lead Government did not sign Kyoto, they did comply with conditions of the protocol. He said: “The only difference is that Howard did not sign it, but they were doing everything else.” Tuilaepa however applauded the decision by Rudd and hoped for the United States of America to follow suit in signing Kyoto. “Samoa is imposing methods now that other countries have yet to consider, we are advanced in our thinking in regards to Climate Change,” he boasted. According to the Prime Minister, Samoa is making significant progress in curbing the impacts of Climate Change that will be praised in years to come. “Years from now, your great grandchildren will look back and praise the efforts of the Samoan Government in fighting Climate Change,” he said confidently. But Samoas delegation to the Climate Change meeting in Bali has been silent about their participation. Attended by Minister of Natural Resource and Environment, Hon. Faumuina Tiatia Liuga the delegation left Samoa without a Press Conference or Press Release on the issues they put forth in the meeting. Australias ratification of the Kyoto Protocol has only harnessed Samoas commitment to the issue, according to Tuilaepa. “This is a very important step for the Pacific, that Australia has signed Kyoto,” he said. This was supported by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in Samoa. “This would simply serve to strengthen further the partnership that Australia and the Pacific have in their joint commitment towards action on climate change,” said Bruce Chapman, Programme Manager of Pacific Futures Programme (PFP) in SPREP. “In this light, Australia ’s ratification of Kyoto will certainly be of great welcome to the global effort towards combating climate change,” Mr. Chapman said. To date, 13 Pacific Island Countries have ratified the Kyoto Protocol. They are Cook Islands, Fiji , Kiribati , Marshall Islands , Federated States of Micronesia , Nauru , Niue , Palau , Papua New Guinea , Samoa , Solomon Islands , Tuvalu , and Vanuatu . According to SPREP, 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) have ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). SPREP says Pacific Island Countries are firmly committed to dealing with climate change and have been active for more than a decade. “PICs now in participating at the global level on climate change negotiations through the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties, and at other forums where they have made known to the rest of the world their vulnerability to sea-level rise, and the challenges that will be faced in adapting to climate change impacts,” Mr. Chapman says. Currently the Pacific Futures Programme are supporting member countries and territories with sustainable development policies for improved environmental governance, paving the way for implementation mechanisms and resources at the national and community level. According to Mr. Chapman the programme assists Pacific Island Countries to adapt to the realities of a changing climate while at the same time working to ensure that the developed countries recognize the needs of vulnerable countries such as those in the Pacific. Rudd has already committed a significant part of his proposed budget to assist the Pacific in the area of Climate Change. According to a Press Statement by the Australian Labor Party (ALP), $150 million from Australia’s international aid budget will be used “to assist our neighbours prepare for and adapt to the effects of climate change.” The statement continued: “Given the large number of small, low elevation islands in the southwest Pacific, the impact of climate change on migration patterns in our own region is very real. Tuvalu has already begun negotiating migration rights with New Zealand as a result of climate change. “ Some of Australia’s efforts targeting Pacific island countries include the funding of adaptation plans in each country and the establishment of a Pacific Climate Change Strategy. Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment Name Email Title Comment
Last Updated ( Sunday, 09 December 2007 )

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