(Screenshot Al-jazeera 'Nauru calls on UN to fight climate change')
Sep 27, 2012
Two small Pacific Island nations called on the United Nations this week to facilitate immediate action and a legally binding agreement to curb global warming, which has caused steadily rising ocean levels, immediately threatening the soon to be submerged states.
In separate speeches at the UN 67th General Assembly this week the leaders, President Christopher Loeak of the Marshall Islands and President Sprent Dabwido of Nauru reminded all nations of their roles in the climate catastrophe and of a global unwillingness to do what is necessary to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Such effects, the presidents reminded the UN, will not only effect small islands states, but eventually the entire world.
"The time is now over for endless North-South division and all-too predictable finger pointing must end," Loeak of the Marshall Islands told the 67th General Assembly on the opening day of the annual General Debate.
The Marshall Islands currently have a national energy plan to cut its own emissions drastically. "I ask the rest of the world if you will also meet us in ambition," Loeak said. "Will it come soon enough?"
In his statement at the General Debate, Dabwido of Nauru noted that greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise each year with no end in sight. "Small islands may be the canary in the coalmine, but we are all staring a global catastrophe right in the face," he warned.
"If multilateralism is to have any credibility, then we must move to an emergency footing and those countries with the greatest capacity must immediately begin mobilizing the significant resources necessary to remake the energy infrastructure that powers the global economy," he added.
The Presidents' arguments were complimented this week by the release of a new report that predicts more than a 100 million people will die by 2030 if there is no action on climate change, with more than 90 per cent of those deaths occurring in developing countries.
Additionally, Speaking at the Assembly's opening debate, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon accused governments of complacency and negligence over climate action and said urgency is now required to save human life on the planet.
"The severe and growing impacts of climate change are there before our eyes - yet too many people in power seem willfully blind to the threat," said Ban.
"This is a time of turmoil, transition and transformation - a time when time itself is not on our side."
"Last December, Member States agreed to reach a legally binding agreement by 2015. Now, you must make good on this promise. Time is running out on our ability to limit the rise in global temperature to 2degC," he urged.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Two small Pacific Island nations called on the United Nations this week to facilitate immediate action and a legally binding agreement to curb global warming, which has caused steadily rising ocean levels, immediately threatening the soon to be submerged states.
In separate speeches at the UN 67th General Assembly this week the leaders, President Christopher Loeak of the Marshall Islands and President Sprent Dabwido of Nauru reminded all nations of their roles in the climate catastrophe and of a global unwillingness to do what is necessary to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Such effects, the presidents reminded the UN, will not only effect small islands states, but eventually the entire world.
"The time is now over for endless North-South division and all-too predictable finger pointing must end," Loeak of the Marshall Islands told the 67th General Assembly on the opening day of the annual General Debate.
The Marshall Islands currently have a national energy plan to cut its own emissions drastically. "I ask the rest of the world if you will also meet us in ambition," Loeak said. "Will it come soon enough?"
In his statement at the General Debate, Dabwido of Nauru noted that greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise each year with no end in sight. "Small islands may be the canary in the coalmine, but we are all staring a global catastrophe right in the face," he warned.
"If multilateralism is to have any credibility, then we must move to an emergency footing and those countries with the greatest capacity must immediately begin mobilizing the significant resources necessary to remake the energy infrastructure that powers the global economy," he added.
The Presidents' arguments were complimented this week by the release of a new report that predicts more than a 100 million people will die by 2030 if there is no action on climate change, with more than 90 per cent of those deaths occurring in developing countries.
Additionally, Speaking at the Assembly's opening debate, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon accused governments of complacency and negligence over climate action and said urgency is now required to save human life on the planet.
"The severe and growing impacts of climate change are there before our eyes - yet too many people in power seem willfully blind to the threat," said Ban.
"This is a time of turmoil, transition and transformation - a time when time itself is not on our side."
"Last December, Member States agreed to reach a legally binding agreement by 2015. Now, you must make good on this promise. Time is running out on our ability to limit the rise in global temperature to 2degC," he urged.
Two small Pacific Island nations called on the United Nations this week to facilitate immediate action and a legally binding agreement to curb global warming, which has caused steadily rising ocean levels, immediately threatening the soon to be submerged states.
In separate speeches at the UN 67th General Assembly this week the leaders, President Christopher Loeak of the Marshall Islands and President Sprent Dabwido of Nauru reminded all nations of their roles in the climate catastrophe and of a global unwillingness to do what is necessary to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Such effects, the presidents reminded the UN, will not only effect small islands states, but eventually the entire world.
"The time is now over for endless North-South division and all-too predictable finger pointing must end," Loeak of the Marshall Islands told the 67th General Assembly on the opening day of the annual General Debate.
The Marshall Islands currently have a national energy plan to cut its own emissions drastically. "I ask the rest of the world if you will also meet us in ambition," Loeak said. "Will it come soon enough?"
In his statement at the General Debate, Dabwido of Nauru noted that greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise each year with no end in sight. "Small islands may be the canary in the coalmine, but we are all staring a global catastrophe right in the face," he warned.
"If multilateralism is to have any credibility, then we must move to an emergency footing and those countries with the greatest capacity must immediately begin mobilizing the significant resources necessary to remake the energy infrastructure that powers the global economy," he added.
The Presidents' arguments were complimented this week by the release of a new report that predicts more than a 100 million people will die by 2030 if there is no action on climate change, with more than 90 per cent of those deaths occurring in developing countries.
Additionally, Speaking at the Assembly's opening debate, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon accused governments of complacency and negligence over climate action and said urgency is now required to save human life on the planet.
"The severe and growing impacts of climate change are there before our eyes - yet too many people in power seem willfully blind to the threat," said Ban.
"This is a time of turmoil, transition and transformation - a time when time itself is not on our side."
"Last December, Member States agreed to reach a legally binding agreement by 2015. Now, you must make good on this promise. Time is running out on our ability to limit the rise in global temperature to 2degC," he urged.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.