US climate talks

A LOT of debate is ensuing on Fiji’s non-inclusion in Joe Biden’s summit.

My own response is Fiji was given unprecedented opportunity to be the President of the COP23 process, supported largely by the small island countries which naturally relished this huge opportunity to promote specific issues relevant to their situation. The jury is still out on how Fiji used this remarkable opportunity and whether expectations were met.

While Fiji is claiming ‘climate leadership’, other countries are doing the same with their passion and zeal for this worthy course. Action speaks louder than words, so let us all be measured by our real actions.

We must applaud Marshall Islands for its profound leadership for climate change over the past decade or so. That of course has not been unnoticed by the global community and US as they were chosen ahead of the rest of the pack to occupy the front seats at these important talks. The other day I highlighted its most recent example, ie., calling for curb on emissions from shipping, as yet another example, in the long array of tangible actions the RMI leadership has taken. This also includes its support for the PIDF which provided the game changing ‘Suva Declaration on Climate Change’. Of course now the organisation is just being kept afloat by GOF and no one exactly knows what it is doing!

So kudos to Marshall Islands for its enlightened leadership and meaningful actions on climate change. As a small atoll nation facing existential threat to the impacts of sea level rise, it is also worthy of championing this course at this significant global forum. ALTAUF CHAND

Minto, NSW