LEADERS URGED TO FORTIFY PACIFIC REGION: GREENPEACE

Greenpeace Pacific Political Advisor Seni Nabou said the Pacific faces an increase in cascading impacts of climate change that put at risk regional security such as: food, energy, health and natural resources. 

“There is no clearer time than the present to take a different path towards regional sustainability and because of climate change, Forum member countries are now more interdependent on each other,” said Mrs Nabou.
 
“Australia and New Zealand must play a leadership role by supporting binding targets for industrialized countries to cut their emissions by 25 to 40 percent by 2020.”

Mrs Nabou also pointed out that the region’s tropical forests are a crucial buffer against climate change.  “The more CO2 lost into the atmosphere, the more severe the impact on the global climate. Our forests maintain environmental systems that are essential for life on Earth because they influence weather patterns by controlling rainfall and evaporation of water from soil. Our forests must remain intact and protected,” she said.
 
Greenpeace Oceans campaigner Josua Turaganivalu commended Forum countries who are Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) for announcing the closure of high seas areas to fishing in June: ”These countries have made efforts on the region’s behalf to ensure the longevity of the regional tuna fishery. Other Forum member countries should join in solidarity in closing high seas areas to fishing.”
 
“No-fishing zones in the High Seas will also provide important protection for our oceans that are starting to be affected by climate change impacts,” he said.

Mr Turaganivalu said the failure of the 4th session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) last year to adopt measures to reduce the catch of two key tuna stocks – bigeye and yellowfin, as urged by Leaders in last year’s Vava’u Declaration makes it more important than ever for Pacific Island Forum Leaders to maintain regional unity.

“Greenpeace continues to advocate an overall effort reduction of 50% in the regional tuna catch,” said Mr Turaganivalu. “This would not only help set the regional fishery on a pathway to long term sustainability, but evidence also shows that significant effort reductions in the fishery would help increase the economic returns over the longer term,” said Mr Turaganivalu.