09 December 2011
Pacific news at COP17 courtesy of SPREP Pacific Climate Change Blog www.climatepasifika.blogspot.com
Durban, South Africa, 7 December –
"I find it appalling, really appalling that we can't make a political decision on these matters, it's a dreadful lack of
understanding of our legacy as world leaders at this moment, particularly the large countries."- Hon. Toke Talagi,
Premiere of Niue
From the Rock of Polynesia to the Cradle of Humanity, the Premier of Niue has traveled far to present a firm message at
the UN Climate Conference in Durban, South Africa.
Niue is a large upraised coral atoll in the Pacific that is home to less than 1,500 residents in 14 different village
communities. For the people of Niue, like many other communities in Small Islands Developing States, the impacts of
climate change are real and they are being felt now.
In 2004, Niue was struck by category 5 Cyclone Heta that caused major damage to infrastructure and agriculture estimated
at NZD 37.7 million, which is close to three times the value of Niue's GDP, highlighting Niue's economic vulnerability
to climate change.
"The politics of climate change is broken into three parts," said the Premier of Niue, Hon. Toke Talagi.
"One is to do with the risk assessment of the information being given to us from scientists and whether it is perceived
as low, medium or high. The second is in relation to risk assessment in terms of funding and the third is to do with the
legacy of us Leaders at the moment with our respect to make decisions on climate change, or not."
The Premier feels that some of the developed countries view the risk assessment as medium allowing for more time to
continue the negotiations, whereas others view the risk assessment as high. It is this inability to agree that delays an
outcome, continuing to disagree while the climate change problem grows worse and "nothing is done."
"We are the current cabinet of World Leaders, the legacy that we are leaving behind at this moment is the inability to
make decisions that will enable us to respond to climate change and take collective action. We are not doing that
therefore our legacy is unfortunately that we did nothing."
To view all speeches made by Pacific Leaders and Ministers during the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United
Nations Convention to the Framework on Climate Change please visit: https://unfccc.int/meetings/durban_nov_2011/statements/items/6584.php
ENDS