Transcript
SEMI KOROILAVESAU: We are taking our issue to New York and to the United Nations to ask other countries to assist in the partnership and maximum sustainable development so we can achieve partnership on the oceans.
AMELIA LANGFORD: So there's a lot of work involved in preparing for the conference?
SK: Absolutely. I mean, this is only the beginning. There was an initial preparatory meeting in New York last month, which was chaired by Fiji and Sweden and we had the regional here and other regional meetings are also being held around the world, the Pacific held our regional meeting last week, and then we will take up the issues and hopefully we will reach consensus at the UN meeting in June, where we will hopefully have a clear platform and line of actions to be taken.
AL: How crucial is it that consensus is reached?
SK: Well, I mean, for the small island states, especially the small Pacific islands, and the low-lying islands and countries around the world, this has to be - this is the game-changer. If we cannot achieve any consensus, then there is a huge problem. SG14 [The UN's Sustainable Development Goal 14] basically will give significant protection to the low-lying areas around the world because of the rising sea-level, if we cannot reach consensus that is a huge problem for the smaller island states and also the areas around the bigger countries that have low-lying land.
AL: And as you say though, it will affect or is already affecting the small islands first.
SK: Absolutely. You know, we say that we are not contributing a lot of pollution but at the end of the day we will be the ones that will suffer the most.
AL: So you are feeling hopeful about this conference?
SK: I'm hopeful. I mean, we have no choice. What is the alternative? There is no other alternative. I think the world will come together in June to support this.
AL: So, it could be a game-changer?
SK: Yes, absolutely.
