Pacific supports moratorium on ocean fertilization at Nagoya biodiversity conference

The Pacific Voyage Media Team

21 October Nagoya Japan - Tuvalu on behalf of the Pacific Island parties is supporting a moratorium pertaining to ocean fertilization and other forms of geo-engineering activities to counteract the effects of climate change, at the ongoing biodiversity negotiations in Nagoya.

Geo-engineering is defined as an option that would involve large-scale engineering of the environment in order to combat or counteract the effects of changes in atmospheric chemistry

Tuvalu raised this point during an intervention in the climate change discussions at the 10^th Conference of the Parties on Biological Diversity.

The Pacific Island region is not endorsing geo-engineering options because it remains largely unproven.

One of the options among others is Ocean fertilization to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

 Mr. Solomona Lotoala of Tuvalu spoke on behalf of the Pacific island parties –

“Unfortunately for our Pacific Island countries both climate change and biodiversity are integral recognized as parts of our daily lives. One represents an opportunity and supports our daily lives the other is imposed on our daily lives through global processes beyond our control and threatens our survival. As such it is an honor indeed for Tuvalu to speak on behalf of Pacific Island countries on climate change and biodiversity as this is directly an issue of concern for Tuvalu.” 

The Small Islands State is one of the Pacific nations vulnerable to climate change.  It has been established by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that the small island states are amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts of Climate Change.

“Madam Chair, the biodiversity of our islands is the most threatened by climate change in the world.  Island genetic stocks are small and valuable – urgent attention needs to be placed on how to sustain these resources.  Pacific Small Island Developing States recognize the need for support for capacity building to assist Pacific SIDS in identifying, assessing and monitoring impacts of climate change,” he says.

The battle however cannot be fought by Tuvalu and the other small island nations alone, it will need financial and technical support from developed nations to bring about effective adaptation and mitigation actions that address the linkages between biodiversity and Climate Change.

“The Pacific small island nations wish to emphasize that all Pacific Island Countries are taking action to protect and manage our biodiversity and take measures through eco-system based adaptation to adapt to climate change and sea level rise. This includes coral reef, mangrove and terrestrial systems management,” he says.

For the full intervention please read as below -  

PACIFIC ISLAND PARTIES INTERVENTION STATEMENT

Government of TUVALU

Thank you Madam Chair

This is the first time for Tuvalu to take the floor therefore I would like to thank you Madam Chair for the opportunity.

Tuvalu wishes to extend our heartfelt thanks to the government of Japan, the people of Nagoya for hosting us well in this 10^th Conference of the Parties. Thank you for your extraordinary hospitality and warm welcome.

This statement is on behalf of the 14 Pacific Island Countries represented here.

Madam Chair, if I recall the theme of this year’s International Year of Biodiversity – Biodiversity is life – Biodiversity is OUR life. Today Madam Chair, unfortunately for our Pacific Island countries both climate change and biodiversity are integral recognized as parts of OUR daily lives. One represents an opportunity and supports our daily lives, the other is imposed on OUR daily lives through global processes beyond our control and threatens our survival. As such it is an honor indeed for Tuvalu to speak on behalf of PICs on CC & BD as this is directly an issue of concern for Tuvalu. 

In Tuvalu, our islands biodiversity provides a wealth of food, other natural products, and is the foundation for our traditional and cultural practices. Madam chair, we at this point in the discussions want to stress the fact that Tuvalu is gravely concerned about climate change given our imminent disappearance under water should global warming continue at its present rate.

Madam Chair, in view of the foregoing, the Pacific SIDS wish to emphasize that all Pacific Island Countries are taking action to protect and manage our biodiversity and take measures through eco-system based adaptation to adapt to climate change and sea level rise. This includes coral reef, mangrove and terrestrial systems management. We look to our partners for financial and technical support to continue these efforts to develop effective adaptation and mitigation actions that address the linkages between biodiversity and Climate Change.

Madam Chair, the biodiversity of our islands are the most threatened by climate change in the world. Island genetic stocks are small and valuable –urgent attention needs to be placed on how to sustain these resources. Pacific SIDS recognize the need for support for capacity building to assist Pacific SIDS in identifying, assessing and monitoring impacts of climate change.

Madam Chair, on behalf of the Pacific SIDS I want to draw the attention of the delegates to the Recommendations of the SBSTTA Draft Decision (UNEP/CBD/COP/10/3) that allows us to move forward in our discussions.  Keeping in line with the Recommendations, Madam Chair, allow me to share several of the Pacific views on these agenda item.

Paragraphs 3-6 relating to finance including reference to the GEF and the Life Web Initiative – the Pacific Island Parties support the removal of the brackets (around para 4) – as a starting point.

·    Paragraph 8q referring to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and considering land ownership and land tenure, respecting, preserving and maintaining the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. Pacific Islands Parties support the removal of the brackets and wish to lend our strong support to the importance of maintaining the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities.

·    Paragraph 8w relating to the exclusion of ocean fertilization and other forms of geo-engineering activities until there is an adequate scientific basis. The Pacific Island parties support the removal of this bracket as geo-engineering activities aimed at addressing climate change are unproven and have the potential to have a serious negative impact on marine biological diversity.

·    The two options contained in paragraph 9 relating to monitoring biodiversity impacts of REDD activities (paragraph 9g) both have merits. The Pacific Island Parties support combining of these two options and suggested wording will be submitted for consideration.

·     With regards to the proposed Joint Work Programme the Pacific Island parties will submit its comments to the Secretariat later.

Madam Chair, thank you for the opportunity and I would like to extend our sincere thanks to our parties and invite you all to come and join us at our Pacific Voyage Booth # 7 – next to the BIG BIRD.

Thank you Madam Chair