NZ gives Pacific Island states a voice at Security Council

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9 years ago

Our government has done the right thing in using its role as chair of the United Nations Security Council this month to give Small Island Developing States, (SIDS) the opportunity to air concerns, says Caritas Director Julianne Hickey.

However she believes New Zealand needs to ‘walk the talk’ on the security and wellbeing of Pacific island states.

Over 70 countries joined a New Zealand-sponsored debate at the Security Council on peace and security in small island developing states (SIDS).

During the debate almost every speaker gave credit to New Zealand for putting the focus on small island states at the highest level of the United Nations.

The council heard pleas from ministers and ambassadors from Pacific states such as Kiribati, Fiji, Samoa, Niue and the Marshall Islands, and Caribbean countries like St Vincent and the Grenadines.

But Hickey says New Zealand must also look at its own policies.

“Other countries, with their own challenges on emissions, such as China and the USA, have already made a commitment on climate change that is stronger than New Zealand’s.”

“We can do better and for the sake of our environment and that of our Pacific neighbours we must do better.”

Several non-government organisations in New Zealand are gathering together to increase awareness of the effects of climate change on nations of the Pacific Islands.

TEAR Fund, Oxfam, 350 Aotearoa, the Diocesan Climate Change Action Group, and the Reformed Christian Church of Tuvalu are bringing church leaders from the Pacific to New Zealand to discuss the threat they face.

The Pacific Leaders Climate Tour will come to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. It will host breakfasts for New Zealand church leaders, along with free evening lectures for the general public. The gatherings will discuss how government, businesses and individuals can help New Zealand embrace clean energy.

Rachael Le Mesurier, Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand, says it makes sense for New Zealand to take on some more responsibility, as the Pacific is suffering.

“Our Pacific neighbours not only carry a disproportionate burden of climate change impact, but climate-related disasters also undermine the long-term development work Oxfam and other agencies are doing in the Pacific. We need to mobilize as many concerned New Zealanders as possible, to speak loudly about this injustice.”

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