EU urges PNG and island countries to demand at Paris climate talks

Caption Pic:  EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, September 13, 2015 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

EUROPEAN Union Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete, made the comments when interviewed by the Sunday Chronicle on the role the EU would like to see Papua New Guinea and its fellow island countries bring to the table at the Paris climate talks in December.

He pointed out the devastation caused by cyclone Pam in March, which shows how vulnerable the region is to the natural disasters that are likely to become more frequent and intense in the future.

“We are in a crucial period in the run up to the adoption of a new global climate agreement in Paris in December,” Cañete said.

“The paris agreement must provide the framework for accelerating the global transition to low-carbon climate-resilient economies- to put us on a pathway towards the goal of keeping the global temperature rise below 1.5 or 2. Degrees, every country needs to play its part.”

“I would like PNG and the rest of the pacific islands to be very demanding in the Paris talks asking for a very ambitious agreement and with actual emissions goals for everybody.”

Cañete added that it is vital PNG and its neighbours not only support the long term outcomes of the Paris meet, but to also demand a periodical review of them.

“We would like for them to support not only by way of a long term goal, but by way of a periodical review every 5 years of the Paris agreement commitments in order to raise the level of emissions and make sure we arrive at the reduction of 2 to 1.5 degrees.”

“I also expect from them that they will defend the position of the vulnerability of the small islands, they will address and demand some mechanism to withhold the effects of climate change, especially with small islands states.”

“As Cyclone Pam demonstrated- small islands are extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change.”

The commissioner also stated that despite PIF having some of the smallest countries in the world, their voices were among some of the most respected in the world when it comes to the issues at hand.

“I know that PNG and Pacific countries are very active in international talks- they may be small in size but they have a very big voice because the Pacific islands are very respected in international talks mainly because they are very active in the talks speaking in a loud voice with lots of arguments.”