By Pita Ligaiula in Glasgow
Papua New Guinea Environment Minister Wera Mori, says developed countries need to take real action to meet their historical obligation and help island countries tackle climate change.
Addressing the COP26 High-level event in Glasgow, Minister Mori said PNG is a direct victim of climate change.
“My message to the developed countries is that they’ve got to basically meet their obligations… It’s not the time for rhetoric.
“We are a victim as a consequence of their activities.
“It is totally unfair that while we are bracing ourselves as to how we could be able to mitigate, the developed world is continuously emitting greenhouse gases in the quest basically to advance the livelihood, while we are suffering the consequences,” Minister Mori said.
He said the oceans have become highly acidic due to the rise in temperatures.
“We have lost our marine stock in terms of tuna. Furthermore, we have seen, given the rise in the temperatures, build-up of wind that leads to storms, tornadoes and cyclones.”
He urged big emitters to take real actions to tackle the global crisis instead of making empty promises.
“They shouldn’t be shifting the blame to us, because it is the developed world that is responsible for the destruction of the ecosystem.”
“Shifting major responsibilities to the developing countries “is not a fair position taken out by the developed world,” Wera said
He said global emitters have failed to deliver their promise of US$100 billion a year to help lower-income nations to tackle climate change by 2020.
“They have got to also be part of the mitigation processes and adaptations. They have got to compensate those countries that have been impacted by climate change in the area of mitigation and adaptation.
“We want them to play a more significant role so that they can help those countries that are impacted by climate change to add up to a new normal. Otherwise, it’s totally unfair, said Mori.
SOURCE: PACNEWS
