The Prime Minister of Tuvalu Enele Sopoaga has warned Australia that its "Pacific pivot" risks being fatally undermined by its climate change policies ahead of crucial talks in Poland.
Mr Sopoaga says there's no point talking about economic growth unless climate change is addressed (The World)
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But Mr Sopoaga has declared climate change could "totally destroy" his tiny Pacific nation, and he called on Australia to help fight it by blocking the contentious Adani coal mine in Queensland and making deeper cuts to carbon emissions.
"We cannot be regional partners under this step-up initiative — genuine and durable partners — unless the Government of Australia takes a more progressive response to climate change," Mr Sopoaga said.
"They know very well that we will not be happy as a partner, to move forward, unless they are serious."
Tuvalu's low-lying atolls are particularly vulnerable
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| Fuel drums are being used as sea walls to provide protection against coastal erosion in southern Funafuti, Tuvalu. (Oxfam: Rodney Dekker) |
The talks are designed to get all 195 countries to agree to a binding set of conventions in order to reduce carbon emissions.
Tuvalu is made up of nine low-lying coral atolls and its highest point is only 4.5 metres above sea level, making it particularly vulnerable to climate change.
US President Donald Trump has already pulled the US out of Paris and Mr Sopoaga warned the world risked "going backwards" unless countries made concrete commitments to cut pollution.
He also revealed all Pacific nations — including Australia and New Zealand — would sign a "new declaration" on climate change during the talks in Poland.
"The idea is to further project to our world the necessity and imperative of collective actions against climate change," Mr Sopoaga told the ABC.
"There's no point of talking about economic growth unless you deal with the issue of climate change and sea level rise."Pacific nations tip-toe around Canberra
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| Abbot Point is located about two hours south of Townsville, near vast coal reserves Adani is looking to exploit. (Supplied) |
But Mr Sopoaga indicated Pacific nations had agreed to use softer language in order to get Australia on board.
"It will focus on the necessity of moving to renewable-energy-based economies which is safe and friendly to the environment, and impress on all parties the need to develop renewable technology," he said.
Mr Sopoaga wasn't purely critical of Australia — he praised Prime Minister Scott Morrison for resisting calls to get out of the Paris deal, and said Australia was "seriously looking" at taking a more ambitious approach on renewable energy.
But he pleaded with the Coalition to prevent Indian company Adani from pressing ahead with its plan to open a new coal mine in Queensland, although the project has been scaled down.
"This will only go into causing a lot of serious damage to the environment, and eventually causing destruction to the people of the Pacific", Mr Sopoaga said."So it is my strong prayer that Australia will reconsider opening this new coal mine."
Links
- Vanuatu Says It May Sue Fossil Fuel Companies And Other Countries Over Climate Change
- Indigenous Poets Read Urgent Climate Message On A Melting Glacier
- Climate Change: Nauru’s Life On The Frontlines
- ‘Not Happy’: Australia Must Act On Climate, Says Former Kiribati Leader
- Pacific Nations Aren’t Cash-Hungry, Minister, They Just Want Action On Climate Change
- While My Island Nation Sinks, Australia Is Doing Nothing To Solve Climate Change
- Climate Change Driving Up Malnutrition Rates In Pacific, UN Warns
- 'Truly Desperate Times': Pacific Nations Despair At Australia's Climate Action Stasis
- Australia Tried To Water Down Climate Change Resolution At Pacific Islands Forum: Leader
- Australia Signs Declaration Saying Climate Change 'Single Greatest Threat' To Pacific
- 'We're facing a man-made disaster of global scale': Attenborough's dire climate change warning
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