Papua New Guinea's prime minister has called on developed nations to show more care towards island states impacted by climate change.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and the United Nations' Resident Co-ordinator Gianluca Rampolla cut cake at a Partnership Dialogue in Port Moresby to mark 75 years of existence of the UN, 3 November 2020. Photo: PNG PM Media
James Marape was speaking at a Partnership Dialogue to mark 75 years of existence of the United Nations.
The prime minister called for greater international collaboration to address the impacts of climate change in the Pacific.
While he cited PNG's own low-lying atolls and coastal areas, he also singled out Micronesian and Polynesian Islands as being particularly vulnerable.
According to him, having caused the greater environmental damage, nations with advanced economies owe "a little bit more care" and restitution to Pacific island states.
He urged the UN to facilitate discussions on greater assistance to islands states impacted by climate change and for technologies that can help them reclaim land.
"I ask the United Nations to coordinate this discussions without fear or favour," he said at the Dialogue event at APEC Haus in Port Moresby.
"If the UN is to advance into the next 75 years, carry the rights of every member states, including the Smaller Island States, the right to leave on their own land and not immediately look at relocation."
Marape said the collective carbon foot prints of Smaller Island States were nothing compared to the carbon footprint of industrial nations.
"I would like to press on here, on the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, that advanced nations owe a little bit more care and restitute [sic] to the low lying atolls and coastal areas of our country and the Smaller Island States of the Pacific Region."
Marape said that as well as PNG he was speaking for the 15 other smaller Pacific Island states.