Alik delivered a statement at the high-level plenary laying out the scenarios for what he said many leading climate change scientists are referring to as tipping points beyond which abrupt climate change shifts become unavoidable.
In his statement, Alik called on world policymakers to find timely and urgent solutions and reactive climate change governance in order to fast-track mitigation measures necessary to avoid such tipping points.
Speaking also at the ministerial roundtable in which he was invited to lead its discussion, Alik delivered an emotional plea appealing to world leaders not to view the lives of some people as more important than others or some cultures worth saving than others.
Mindful of the recent series of sea surges in Kosrae and some parts of the federation, he said “We are truly the victims not of our doing and you must help us adapt to the impact of climate change.” He went on to say, “on behalf of the people of my islands, I demand action.”
Accompanying Alik were Andrew Yatilman, director of the Office of Environment and Emergency Management, Ambassador Masao Nakayama of the FSM mission in New York, staff of the FSM Department of Foreign Affairs, and advisors from relevant non-governmental organizations.
