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António Guterres has called for climate justice for Pacific nations affected by rising sea levels during a visit to Samoa as the UN chief tours the vast Asia-Pacific region.
Some Pacific territories are at risk of being “wiped out” by cyclones, marine heatwaves and rising sea levels caused by climate change, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Thursday.
“High and rising sea levels pose a huge threat to Samoa, the Pacific region and other small island developing States. These challenges require resolute action by the international community”He spoke during a visit to the Samoan capital of Apia.
If Pacific nations contribute just 0.02% of global carbon emissions, theyOn the front lines of the climate crisis, facing extreme weather events, from fierce tropical cyclones to record-breaking marine heatwaves””, continued the UN Secretary-General.
He said the fate of the islands depended on limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times, a goal nearly 200 countries agreed to work towards as part of COP21 in 2015.
The Pacific is best run by Pacific Islanders. It must not become a forum for geostrategic competition.
António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
The UN chief urged wealthy nations to stick to their pledges to finance the consequences of climate change in developing countries and called on the international community to take action, particularly to combat overfishing and plastic pollution in the Pacific.
Antonio Guterres also took the opportunity to comment on the struggle for power and influence between China, the United States and their allies in the region.
“The Pacific is best managed by Pacific Islanders and must not become a forum for geostrategic competition.”
The UN Secretary-General began his Asia-Pacific trip on August 19. It will last until September 5.
She plans to visit Samoa and New Zealand from August 23 to 24. Then, from August 24 to 27, Guterres will attend the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga.
He will then travel to East Timor to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the UN-organized East Timorese independence referendum. From September 1 to 2, he will go to Singapore. His trip to China will then end on September 5.
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