A group of former Pacific leaders, including former Presidents of Tuvalu, Kiribati, Palau and the Marshall Islands, have today released a statement confirming that climate change is the primary security threat facing Pacific Island States.
The statement released by the Pacific Elders’ Voice group comes a day after former Australian defence and security leaders called on Australia’s political leaders to put climate and security concerns at the centre of Pacific policy in order to regain trust in the region.
Former Defence Force Chief Admiral Chris Barrie (Retd) said Australia’s political leaders must now immediately shift their focus onto the security threats posed by climate change in the Pacific.
“For days our national debate has been consumed by concerns over China’s growing influence in the Pacific, but now we’ve heard directly from former Pacific Presidents that climate change is their primary security concern,” Admiral Barrie said.
“In response, our political leaders must immediately shift their focus away from blustering scare campaigns and onto dealing with the greatest security threat we all face, which is climate change, if we are to restore our relationship with our closest neighbours.”
The Pacific Elders’ Voice statement says:
“The growing military tension in the Pacific region created by both China and the United States and its allies, including Australia, does little to address the real threat to the region caused by climate change.
“These nations have done very little to address their own greenhouse gas emissions, despite statements of intent by the nations. Little has been done to address the impacts of climate change in the Pacific caused by their respective greenhouse gas emissions.
“Adequate funding for loss and damage caused by climate change needs to be addressed by Australia, China and the US in their engagement with the Pacific.”
