Australian PM affirms climate commitment to Solomon Islands Prime Minister

DEAR EDITOR, in a very welcome move it was reported by Radio New Zealand today that the new Australian Prime Minister had assured Prime Minister Rick Hou of his government’s commitment to the Paris climate agreement.

Quoting the full Radio New Zealand bulletin it read:

“Australia’s prime minister has affirmed his government’s commitment to fighting climate change.

“Scott Morrison made the commitment to his Solomon Islands counterpart Rick Hou during talks in Canberra.

“Rick Hou is the first international leader to meet Mr Morrison since he became Australia’s latest prime minister last month.

“According to Solomon Islands’ High Commissioner to Australia, Collin Beck, Mr Morrison reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the Paris climate agreement.

“Australia’s commitment was criticised by some island leaders at last week’s Pacific Forum summit in Nauru.

“During its recent leadership change, elements of Australia’s ruling Conservatives party pushed for the government to drop its emissions-reductions targets.

“But Mr Morrison has since ruled out leaving the Paris Agreement, saying climate change action is the Pacific’s priority.

“He said such a move could lessen Australia’s influence in the region.”

Copyright @ 2018, Radio New Zealand.

As a footnote to this welcome development, it was mentioned in today’s Island Sun newspaper that Chief Peter Kalali on behalf of the people of Lord Howe had called on the Solomon Islands government to relocate them as the threat of rising sea levels intensifies in the atolls.

“Chief Kalali of Lord Howe, said Lord Howe is a tiny low-lying atoll vulnerable to sea level rise and within the current generation alone they have witnessed a stark difference in sea level, hence relocation is a must.

“Kalali called on the Solomon Islands government to consider the matter and relocate them to any other province with higher ground.

“He reportedly said the people of Lord Howe need to be relocated as the tides are eating into their homes.” (Quoting an extract from the Island Sun newspaper – 14 September 2018)

 

Yours sincerely,

Frank Short

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