Vice President Elias Camsek Chin addressed the 63rd General Assembly of the UN in New York last Sept. 25.
Chin in his address to the Assembly provided to the media noted that one of the challenges that small countries face is that of climate change.Chin said that the Pacific Small Island Developing States submitted a draft resolution to the 62nd Session of the General Assembly requesting that the Security Council continue its consideration of the security implications of climate change.“We were gratified by the positive response from the international community and thank our many co-sponsors for their support. We believe that addressing the issue of “climate change and security” is of universal importance and one for which we can achieve a consensus. For that reason we have chosen to re-introduce our resolution in the 63rd Session and look forward to working with all delegations to address this omission in the discussions now taking place on climate change,” Chin said.He added that “we cannot accept, under any circumstances, proposals for mandatory emissions targets that take for granted sacrificing the homelands of entire peoples.”Chin said he is speaking on behalf of the president that Palau needs to reach an agreement on a set of quantified emission reduction targets for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.Chin said that there is an urgency to address mitigating the impacts of climate change on small islands developing states which includes Palau.Chin said that member states of the General Assembly, “must be guided by a single consideration: saving those small island states that today live in danger of disappearing entirely as nations.” The disappearance of whole nations due to a dramatic change in the world’s climate has now become a real possibility. I must say, Mr. President, that this is unacceptable.”Chin also cited the Pacific Islands Forum leaders consensus that the small island nations are concerned about the growing threat posed by the climate change threat to the countries sustainable development and its future survival as well.Chin added that Palau is doing its part in reducing its reliance to fossil fuel although greenhouse gas emission is among the lowest.With the address, Palau again lobbied for the Taiwan’s participation in the specialized agencies of the UN such as the World Health Organization and International Civil Aviation Organization.Palau also put an end to bottom trawling because of its effect on the ocean’s ecosystems.
