Fiji welcomed back to Pacific Islands Forum

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott insists Australia has a good story to tell on climate change as he faces a likely hostile reception from Pacific Island leaders. Problems with negotiations behind closed doors at the Pacific IslandsForum in Port Moresby were evident with the official communique, due yesterday evening, not released until mid-morning today.

The Pacific small island states certainly set their own agenda on climate change in The Suva Declaration, which is the common position they will advance together in Paris.

Abbott said both Australia and New Zealand would go to the United Nations conference in Paris with “very ambitious targets” but no further commitments would be made as a result of PIF.

Leaders of the Pacific Islands have begrudgingly accepted that not all countries in the grouping will agree to a stronger stance on climate change that the smaller islands were desperately pushing for.

Failing to keep global warming to below a 1.5C increase is likely to put undue pressure on the Pacific island countries through more frequent climate- and weather-induced disasters, as well as speeding up inundation from sea-level rise. New Zealand has experience in implementing catch-based management systems, and we have committed to sharing our knowledge and experience with the Pacific. “If they are really are our friends then they should be looking out for our future as well”, Kiribati’s President Anote Tong told the ABC.

Numerous island states are barely two metres above sea level, which leaders said added weight to their lower target.

Tong said global warming had left small island nations fighting for their future and there was no room for compromise on the issue at this week’s PIF meeting in Papua New Guinea.

Vulnerable Pacific island nations will this week send the world an urgent plea for action on climate change at crunch talks in Paris later this year.

“We will also continue to invest in the areas that underpin sustainable economic development such as access to affordable, reliable and clean energy, ICT connectivity, and education”.

Palau President Tommy Remengesau said the Pacific’s plight should prick the conscience of delegates from 195 nations who will meet in Paris in December seeking a breakthrough climate deal.

Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has refused to attend the PIF while Australia and New Zealand remain full members, saying the wealthy nations dominate the body.

“If Tony Abbott was here, facing the situation we are facing now, what kind of an answer would he expect from me as prime minister of Australia?”

The Pacific Islands Forum leaders summit runs until Friday.

The forum will raise the issue with the Indonesian government.

Meanwhile, New Zealand and Australia said Indonesia’s sovereignty must be respected.

It will also consider establishing a regional fact finding team to investigate reports of “ongoing gross human rights violations” in West Papua in response to a submission from more than 40 civil society organisations in 13 Pacific countries and territories.