Thursday 17th January, 2019
With the Australian Prime Minister’s, Hon. Scott Morris visit to Fiji, the Alliance for Future Generations - Fiji, is calling on national leaders to use this opportunity to urge the Australian Prime Minister and the Australian Federal Government to take serious & urgent action against the greatest security threat in the Pacific - climate change.
Australia’s domestic climate policies have been inconsistent with the regional attempts to address climate change, and their collective calls to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as it poses an existential threat to many low lying Pacific Island Countries.
“The Australian Government’s stance and continuous promotion of its coal industry and climate inaction, including their lack of commitment to the Paris Agreement is something that does not augur well with the people of the Pacific, as it threatens the very fabric of our lives, livelihoods, ancestral lands, cultures and traditions - which are at stake, including the fact, that it will pose food, health and water security issues”, said Mr. Lavetanalagi Seru, the Coordinator of the Alliance for Future Generations - Fiji [AFG].
Currently underway in Australia are plans to operate the Carmichael Coal Mine in the Galilee Basin, Central Queensland, Australia by Adani. The coal mine proposed by Adani, is expected to produce 2.3 billion tonnes of coal over 60 years, The cumulative emissions, once these coals are burnt, will create up to 4.6 billion tonnes of carbon pollution, the highest in the Southern Hemisphere.
Recognizing that climate change presents the single greatest threat to the livelihood, security and well being of Pacific people, Pacific Island Leaders during the 49th Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting in Nauru, reaffirmed the importance of immediate urgent action to combat climate change.
“Australia needs to realize that here in the Pacific, it is an existential threat, and a security threat, and that they will need to act on it. Young people and future generations - will pay dearly in the future - if we continue on business as usual”, said Mr. Seru.
AFG Member, Mr. Joeli Waqanivalu said “If we work together to fight against climate change, it can help build and strengthen the geo-political relationships here in the Pacific Region”.
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