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I have the honour to make this statement on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum countries in New York, in particular the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Australia, New Zealand, and my country Papua New Guinea.
In this 60th anniversary year, the Pacific Islands Forum wishes to reiterate our strong commitment to efforts to realize the vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In this light we wish to draw the attention of members to an issue that for many member states threatens the enjoyment of many fundamental rights set out in the Universal Declaration.
Mr Chairman
Within the Pacific region, many low-lying island countries are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Climate change will exacerbate such problems as access to fresh water, and vulnerability to cyclones, drought and flooding.
Mr Chairman
Climate change is an immediate problem affecting the human rights of many already vulnerable populations. The human consequences of climate change are already visible and real not only in the Pacific but in many parts of the world. Climate change threatens the effective enjoyment of a range of human rights.
The Pacific Islands Forum takes the threat of climate change seriously. We want to see the international community take effective action to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. That places a special responsibility on countries that are major emitters of greenhouse gases. But we all have to play our part. When Pacific Islands Forum leaders met earlier this year on the small island of Niue, our governments issued a key Declaration on Climate Change. The Declaration, a copy of which is being distributed in this room, registers deep concern at the serious and growing threat posed by climate change to the economic, social and environmental well-being of Pacific Island countries.
Pacific Island countries were pleased to see a resolution on human rights and climate change feature in the Human Rights Council this year. We now look forward to the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on this issue which is due early next year. The Pacific region wishes to urge all member states to give serious consideration to the content of that report and the important questions it is likely to raise. In particular we hope that all member states will give greater attention to the effects of climate change on individuals and communities. The human rights perspective compels us to look at the people whose lives are most adversely affected. We would urge member states to integrate their human rights obligations into policies and programmes to deal with climate change.
Mr Chairman
We all need to bear in mind that an important and particularly unfortunate fact is that many of the least developed countries, and small island states, which have contributed least to global greenhouse gas emissions, will be worst affected by climate change. In addition, it is the poor and marginalized in society that are the most vulnerable. This fact alone should compel us all to collective action.
