Climate change plea by Polynesian leaders

The Polynesian Leaders Group is calling on big industrial nations to heed the pleas of their people.

Leaders from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Ma’ohi Nui (French Polynesia), Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga and Tuvalu signed a joint statement following their first official meeting last week, decrying the state of the world’s oceans and coral reefs, and calling on bigger nations with greater greenhouse gas emissions to fix them.

“This statement recognises local jurisdictional efforts and actions, and puts forward a call for action to large greenhouse gas emission producing nations to curb contributions to climate change that impact our island communities. As first-hand witnesses to the effects of climate change, island leaders firmly agree that climate change is underway and has a significant impact on the world’s coral reef systems,” the group said.

They reviewed the science behind the force that threatens the livelihoods of their people.

The average global ocean temperature has increased by 0.7 degrees Celsius in the past century, and is expected to increase by two or three degrees more before the end of this century.

Up to 30 percent of the world’s coral reefs are “severely degraded”, and the pace of coral bleaching is unprecedented (and accelerated by climate change and warmer sea temperatures).

Sea level is predicted to rise 1.7 metres total by the end of the century, exacerbating the impact of storms, erosion and flooding on vulnerable islands.

Ocean acidity – the result of higher CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere – has increased by 26 percent and is expected to double within the century.

“Our small island jurisdictions cannot halt climate change alone. Instead, we are left to seek ways to adapt to uncertainties and unpredictable waters. The consequences of sea level rise, rising sea surface temperatures, increases in ocean acidification, intensifying storm systems, and changing rainfall patterns will fall on small island communities, and are predicted to create an increased burden on human economies and the marine life of coral reefs in the future. This will further exacerbate negative impacts on our islands or render void our efforts to attain sustainable development,” the leaders agreed.

They declared that climate change is a global problem and demands a global solution.

“Climate change is already disproportionally affecting our islands in the Pacific. Although our island people have done little to contribute to the cause – less than 0.03 percent of current global greenhouse gas emissions – we are among the first and most seriously affected populations.”

Bigger nations whose emissions comprise a greater percentage of the global total are “overwhelming” small island states and their efforts to reduce their own emissions, the leaders said.

“It is morally unconscionable that large greenhouse gas emission producing nations continue on the path of unbridled emissions at the direct expense of our small island jurisdictions. Island communities rely on coral reefs for our livelihoods, survival and way of life, whilst coral destruction through the irresponsible acts of large nations threatens our islands’ very existence.

“The global community must take this threat seriously and put in place policies and measures that will not only curb the increase in emissions, but ultimately result in a significant decrease of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere and oceans, and provide sufficient technical and financial support for adaptation.”

The statement was agreed upon by American Samoa governor Togiola Tulafono, Prime Minister Henry Puna, Ma’ohi Nui president Oscar Temaru, Niue premier Toke Talagi, Samoa prime minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, Tokelau’s Ulu Foua Toloa, Tonga prime minister Lord Tu’ivakano, and Tuvalu prime minister Willy Telavi.