KATOWICE, 14 DECEMBER 2018 (KIRIBATI GOVT) – Kiribati President, Taneti Maamau has called for important completion of the work programme and fast action for developed countries to fulfil their Paris Agreement commitments.
Maamau made this strong call for the completion of the Paris Agreement work programme while opening the floor with the delivery of his country’s statement Tuesday this week at the resumed High Level Plenary Session in Katowice, Poland.
“We must not back down from our earlier Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) but to raise it higher even if it means shaping, and changing mind-sets and behaviours of people, but I must stress, it requires a strong political will by us leaders,” President Maamau says.
President Maamau reiterated many industrialised countries have enjoyed the prosperity economic gains from the high productions of their industries but which sadly, occurred at the high expense of the mass from the developing countries that received the brunt of the climate change adverse impacts.
He says although Kiribati is severely impacted by the disastrous effects of Climate Change affecting coastlines, root crops, underground fresh water supplies and its physical infrastructures such as roads, causeways, seawalls and the like, it is pleasing to note that the people of Kiribati, remains firm and determined never to give up. This determination is strongly presented in its climate change policy and which now becomes an established national guide that carries the views and voice of the people of Kiribati.
“If there is a will, goes the proverb, there is a way. We will not step back in our resolve but will adapt and strengthen resilience of our people against the impact of climate change and will continue to do whatever is necessary with the help of the Creator, and the support of the entire global family, so that people of Kiribati can continue their island ways of life,” President Maamau says.
The drive to transforming Kiribati into a nation of health, wealth and peace and to build resilience for our people and islands in the face of climate change are embedded strongly in the Kiribati Vision for 20 years known as KV20 and the nation’s first ever climate change policy.
In addition, new scientific findings on some corals that have grown in size have further boosted the optimism of the people to develop their islands.
In reminding the conference of the fact that climate change is everyone’s business, the President called for inclusion of everyone in the process including Taiwan to ensure that UNFCCC do so in the spirit of the theme of ‘Changing Together’.
