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Climate change year 2009

As Pasifika Youth, we call upon our leaders to move us in unison towards a cleaner, greener, sustainable future for all. We, the youth and elders of the Pacific region, are witnessing the rise of waters around our island homelands. Shifting climate and weather patterns are destroying our natural heritage ? destabilizing reef ecosystems, salinitizing fresh water aquifers, and causing mounting disequilibrium in all natural biomes.

This paper provides a report on outcomes of the PINA-SPC/GTZ workshop to progress media outreach and media reporting of issues relating to Climate Change and Food Security in the Pacific. It also emphasises the unique position of Climate Change in that it cuts all sectors whether it be rural development, forestry, fisheries, and in socio-economic developments of people in the Pacific region specifically in PINA member countries with special reference to flooding in tropical areas, and droughts in subtropical areas, which are projected to become more frequent and intense, together with cyclones which are expected to become more severe.

The people, environment and economy of the Kingdom of Tonga are highly susceptible to the effects of climate change, climate variability and sea level rise. This high vulnerability is a function of the country’s degree of exposure to climatic events and its limited capacity to adequately adapt to these effects. Although the concentrations of Tonga’s GHG emission are insignificant in comparison to global standards, the country is still working towards effectively implementing its share of the global actions aimed at mitigating the causes of climate change. Such adaptation and mitigation requirements are putting significant pressure on the country’s limited resources and international and regional assistance has been a main source of support. Since acceding to the United Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1998 the government and people of the Kingdom of Tonga have been implementing measures to address climate change issues at the national level and contribute to global efforts. While there has been some progress there are also a range of areas where more work is needed and where capacity needs to be developed and strengthened. This report presents the experiences and challenges faced by the government and people in addressing climate change related issues and identifies the priority capacity development needs of the country to enable it to address climate change and also meet its obligations as a Party to the UNFCCC.

Predicted changes to the climate in the Pacific region over the coming decades are expected to have significant implications for the livelihoods of Pacific island inhabitants. While contributing little to the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change, Pacific island countries are particularly vulnerable to its impacts because of their geographical, social, institutional and economic characteristics. Key impacts include damage to coastal systems, settlements and infrastructure; undermining of recent economic progress; exacerbation of existing water and food security challenges; increasing threats to human health; and degradation of regional biodiversity. Global mitigation efforts are a priority both for Australia and for Pacific island countries. In international climate change negotiations, Australia is advocating an ambitious global effort to stabilise greenhouse gases at 450 parts per million (ppm) carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2?e) or lower.

Natural and anthropogenic exploitation of natural resources led to the increasing rate of biodiversity loss. Concern was expressed by the international communities about the loss of biodiversity. In an effort to address the biodiversity crisis the United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity (UNCBD) was opened for signature at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. The UNCBD was opened together with two other conventions namely the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). These conventions are known as the “Three Rio Conventions”. Tonga acceded to the UNCBD, on the19th May 1998. As a party to the UNCBD, Tonga is required to take measures to ensure biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and the equitable sharing of benefits from the use of its biological diversity. The articles of the Convention also require adhering to. Tonga identified seventeen obligations under the UNCBD to be fulfilled.

Prof. Terry DeLacy (project coordinator, professorial research fellow, CTSR, VU) chaired the workshop and gave an overview of the project. Prof. DeLacy stated the significance of the AusAID funded research by pointing out the importance of tourism to the economic growth and sustainable development of Pacific Island countries and the particular vulnerability to climate change of the tourism sector in South Pacific. Tourism is the largest export sector for most Pacific Island countries and offers great opportunity for economic growth and sustainable development. On the other hand, with its close connections to the environment and climate itself, tourism is highly sensitive to climate change risks similar to agriculture, insurance, energy, and transportation. Pacific tourism is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts due to the climate sensitivity of the natural environmental assets upon which the industry is based, the industry’s reliance on a long haul travel market threatened by global climate change policy and changing consumer demands and the vulnerability of coastal infrastructure.

Developing nations in the Pacifi c are at the frontline of global climate change. Livelihoods and food and water sources that have sustained communities over generations are being threatened. People are losing land and being forced from their homes. Unless wealthy, developed countries like Australia and New Zealand take urgent action to curb emissions, some island nations in the Pacifi c face the very real threat of becoming uninhabitable.