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September 2009
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 26 September 2009
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Tuvalu urges nations not to abandon Kyoto Protocol on climate change

26/09/2009

The Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu is calling on the world community to commit to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to avoid too much of an increase in global temperatures.

Apisai Ielemia

Apisai Ielemia

Tuvalu's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Labour Apisai Ielemia said that as one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, his country was urging the world not to abandon the Kyoto Protocol as we approach the climate change meeting in Copenhagen:

"Let me repeat we must not abandon the Kyoto Protocol. I fear that some countries are hoping that the Kyoto Protocol will disappear so that they can take softer emission reduction commitments."

The Prime Minister called on the United States and other greenhouse gas polluting countries to take a leadership role and drastically reduce their emissions. He also called for a reduction in emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, but through new funds to build the capacity of forested developing countries to reduce their deforestation rates, rather than through carbon markets which, the Prime Minister said, would not deliver climate change outcomes.

Diane Bailey, United Nations.
duration: 1'10"


Sound bites

Apisai Ielemia , Tuvalu's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Labour cut 1

"Let me repeat we must not abandon the Kyoto Protocol. I fear that some countries are hoping that the Kyoto Protocol will disappear so that they can take softer emission reduction commitments."
Duration: 14"

Apisai Ielemia , Tuvalu's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Labour cut 2

"Fourth, we need a strong commitment of finance and resources to support vulnerable countries build their resilience to the impacts of climate change. This means we need a commitment to new money. It would be foolhardy to simply reshuffle existing overseas development assistance to support actions to address climate change. This is a new threat and we must find new money to address it."
Duration: 27"

Apisai Ielemia , Tuvalu's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Labour cut 3

"Fifth, we need to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, but in a coherent way. Carbon markets for REDD will not deliver climate change outcomes. We must develop new funds to carefully build the capacity of forested developing countries to reduce their deforestation rates. And whatever actions we take, we must ensure that the rights of Indigenous Peoples are properly protected."