PNG leader urges Australia to take leadership for the Pacific, push strong deal at Paris climate summit

The prime minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG), Peter O’Neill, has recently appealed for Australia to help Pacific island countries fight climate change by standing as an advocate for a strong global climate deal in the Paris climate summit. PNG and other low-lying Pacific countries are considered to be the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change, and experts say that the nations are already experiencing the effects.

O’Neill considers Australia to have the largest economic power in the Pacific region, and he said that the country can assist at-risk neighbouring islands secure an agreement in the summit that will help them face climate change. Pacific leaders are hoping to have a concrete global climate agreement with more than 190 nations at the COP21 in Paris, which starts on Nov. 30.

“We are hoping that Australia will take a leadership role in stating our position to the global community,” The Guardian quoted O’Neill at a meeting in Port Moresby on Monday.

The PNG leader also asked world governments to recognise that the effects of climate change on the Pacific is existential instead of just economic. O’Neill said that Pacific islanders are not “looking for a financial reward” but are seeking for the international community to assist in the resettlement and rebuilding exercises.

According to experts, climate change could potentially force massive migration within the next century. Populated, low-lying regions could also become unlivable due to increasing sea levels, inundation and salinity, The Guardian reports.

NASA recently reported that the world could not avoid the sea level rise by 90 centimetres or more over the next 100 to 200 years. This prediction may largely affect the low-lying Pacific islands and would potentially “eliminate some Pacific island-nations,” according to Michael Freilich, NASA’s earth science division director.

O’Neill made the argument during the meeting with Labor leader Bill Shorten, shadow foreign minister Tanya Plibersek and shadow immigration minister Richard Marles at Port Moresby. Shorten said that Australia needs “serious” and “credible” policies to help prevent the impact of climate change in the Pacific.

To date, Australia is working with Pacific island countries to promote resilience measures under the Green Climate Fund and its regional aid programme, according to Steve Ciobo, Australia’s minister for international development and the Pacific. Ciobo is also currently at the Pacific to visit New Caledonia, Fiji and Niue.

“Australia recognises climate change is a critical issue for our region, with significant potential to impact prospects for economic growth and stability,” he stated in a press release.

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