07 September 2011
Forum SIS Leaders want urgent action on climate change
Auckland, 6th September 2011 - Forum Smaller Island States (SIS) Leaders have called for more urgent action by the
global community to curb the rate of climate change through more meaningful emissions reduction targets and immediate
release of global Fast Start funding commitments made in Copenhagen.
In a joint SIS Leaders Statement on Climate Change adopted at the SIS Leaders’ meeting held in Auckland, New Zealand
today, grave concern was expressed that much has been promised by the global community to support countries adversely
affected by current and future impacts of climate change, yet, very little has been seen in terms of fulfilling
international commitment.
“We need adequate, sustainable and timely resources to support adaptation and mitigation measures. This should not
however, take away from existing development assistance nor should it add to what are already heavy administrative
requirements in its management,” the SIS Leaders said.
An issue gathering much momentum amongst SIS Leaders is the implications associated with the survival of State as an
impending consequence of climate change. Leaders felt careful consideration was needed to better understand what the
loss of physical State might mean for countries’ right to exist while maintaining their sovereignty as nations and their
right to manage their collective resources.
The SIS Leaders concluded their meeting with a range of outcomes and actions on a number of issues including, sub
regional transport, climate change, labour mobility, education, health, in particular non-communicable diseases and
energy.
SIS Leaders from the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu attended
the half-day meeting. The SIS Leaders meeting is the first in the series of Pacific Islands Forum meetings held in
Auckland this week.
ENDS