Vanuatu did not endorse Tuvalu declaration on climate change and survival of Smaller Island States
‘We were being asked to endorse a statement that we have not read. That is why this statement needs to be brought before the leaders so that we can decide whether we can endorse it or not’
Vanuatu’s foreign affairs minister, Ralph Regenvanu confirms his country was also one of the Forum Island Country members that asked for qualification on the Smaller Island States Leaders declaration on climate change, similar to Australia and New Zealand.
Speaking to journalists in Funafuti after the historical marathon Leaders Retreat that lasted more than 12 hours, Mr Regenvanu said Vanuatu could not sign off on a document that it had not seen. “We were being asked to endorse a statement that we have not read. That is why this statement needs
to be brought before the leaders so that we can decide whether we can endorse it or not and not just endorse something that we have not seen,” Mr Rengenvanu said. That is why the Leaders Communique has asked the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to institute a process for tabling Smaller Island States (SIS) decision at a leaders meeting.
When pressed for a clarification, forum chair and Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Enele Sopoaga denied the leaders directive had nothing to do with the declaration on climate change endorsed by the group for Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS).
“It’s the wish of the leaders to seek for some clarity on the process,” Mr Sopoaga said.
“The SIS (Small Island States) is a grouping within the forum of countries with special and unique situations because of their smallness, isolation and vulnerabilities. “The criteria and the process in which this sub group of the forum is working is rather ambiguous and unclear and there are areas that we need to provide clarity so that their issues and the management of their issues are properly handled within the process of the larger Pacific Islands Forum.”
He said the call from the leaders was simply seeking more procedural clarity and the Forum Secretariat had been tasked to provide this perhaps in the next meeting in Vanuatu.
Mr Regenvanu assured the process would be followed in Vanuatu. He said the wording of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Funafuti Declaration on climate change was strong, compared to previous years.
“There is reference to 1.5 degrees throughout, there’s reference to the IPCC report throughout and there’s reference to strategies to achieve net zero emissions by 2050,” Mr Regenvanu said.
“There’s reference to elimination to fossil fuel subsidies and there’s reference to just transition away from fossil fuels. Most of the key language that we wanted is now there.
“Vanuatu is happy with both the communique and declaration.”