Failure not an option for Tuvalu in Paris

Transcript

The prime minister of Tuvalu says failure is not an option for his country going into the Paris COP 21 negotiations at the end of the month.

Enele Sopoaga is challenging industrialised nation's to step up to the plate and agree to the most ambitious legally binding agreement possible for action on climate change.

Mr Sopoaga says it would be a shame for world leaders to miss this unique opportunity to put the interests of humanity ahead of corporate profits and economic advancement.

ENELE SOPOAGA: We have high expectations out of Paris and that the world must respond to these expectations. I think basically what Tuvalu wants to be strongly approved and agreed in Paris is urgent actions to address both the cause of climate change its effects. We know that there have been a lot of documentation a lot of statements by world leaders not only from governments but also from civil societies, by the church, by the business world and certainly by NGO's civil society around the world. And therefore we must, leaders must rise to the expectations so that we have a successful agreement in Paris. And that is the expectation of Tuvalu and we are looking at Paris as the defining moment to protect and save the planet and save islands like Tuvalu.

KOROI HAWKINS: You mentioned the support that the Pacific and other countries are getting for climate change, you have to convince though the leaders of the first world countries, to step up to the plate and take action what are you going to be saying to them in Paris?

ES: Well I think we really need to bring down the discussion to the level of human beings, of mankind of human rights. And I think the human nature of the implications of climate change must play centre stage. So we need to keep that in mind and not to focus on economies, savings, profits and economy. I think we must bring that to bear  on the final hour of negotiations in Paris and therefore the new agreement must be ambitious as possible to protect and save human beings. And of course at the moment we haven't seen any significant realigning of positions from industrialised countries but we are very appreciative, there are some positive signals coming through by President Obama, China. And therefore I want to appeal to our neighbours, especially Australia and New Zealand if they would step up to the plate and stand with us small island countries and take to heart the situation of Tuvalu, Kiribati, Marshall Islands and increase their commitments. I think these things are doable and it would be a great shame if we didn't commit more, because we know very well if we are less ambitious in Paris that would mean the possible disappearance of island countries like Tuvalu and Kiribati. This is more expensive, much more expensive than doing actions right now. Particularly committing to legally but very ambitious, as ambitious as possible an agreement in Paris. And I think this is the simple equation and I want to appeal again on behalf of the people of Tuvalu and our other leaders of our neighbours. Because ODA would mean nothing to these islands if we came out of Paris with anything that makes us fail. Fail our people, fail the whole world if we have a less ambitious agreement in Paris. So this is the moment that leaders must seize, that cannot lose, we have no option failure is not an option for us in Paris.