By Meleasie Goviro – EM TV News, Port Moresby
Representing the Pacific Islands at the official opening of the ACP Summit, Samoan Prime Minister, Dr. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, highlighted the management of climate change to be an “imperative” goal for all ACP countries.
Malielegaoi called on all ACP countries to set aside their differences and work together to curb the effects of climate change in the light of Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Climate change, Malielegaoi said, is an existential threat for low laying atolls in particular.
He said small countries like Kiribati and Tuvalu needed ACPs attention and praised the ACP council for including a Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Forum within the ACP structure.
“For SIDS, the SAMOA Pathway provides the foundation for future actions and partnerships. I applaud the decision of the ACP Council of Ministers to establish a SIDS Forum within our ACP structure. This is a clear demonstration of our unity and solidarity to address the challenges of all members of our ACP family.”
He also stressed that climate funding was fundamental in the fight against the adverse effects of climate change in our community and announced that Samoa would be hosting the Green Climate Funding Board.
“There are still numerous hurdles to accesing financial funding. I am happy to announce that Samoa is bringing home the December meeting of the Green Climate fund Board so that they can experience first-hand what the impacts are on small islands developing states.”
Malielelgaoi urged that ACP group of countries work together to strengthen our resilience to climate change among other “exogenous shocks” through a collective effort to implement the Sustainable Development Goals.
“The sustainable development goals are the road map to our future. The ACP group must learn from each other. Share lessons learnt and best practices and where ever possible execute these responsibilities through south-south and triangular cooperation.”
