The Vanuatu archipelago declares a state of climate emergency
Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu.
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By declaring a state of climate emergency, the Parliament of Vanuatu is following the example of dozens of other countries, such as Canada, Great Britain and Fiji.
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In a speech to Parliament, Prime Minister Bob Loughman declared a climate emergency on Friday.
“
Earth is already too hot and insecure.
We are in danger now, not just in the future
,” Mr Loughman said.
The Pacific archipelago
, which is home to 300,000 inhabitants, has been suffering from rising waters for years and has suffered
two cyclones
and a major drought in ten years.
The Prime Minister of Vanuatu also estimated at $1.2 billion the needs of his country to
deal with climate change by 2030
- a sum which will have to come mainly from donor countries.
Vanuatu may benefit from Australia's assistance.
After ten years of Conservative government, the country has elected a Labor leader.
And Canberra promised this week at the Pacific Islands Forum a reset of its climate policy.
“The urgency of the crisis
”
It is also a message to the other leaders that Mr. Loughman sent.
"
Vanuatu's responsibility is to ensure that responsible nations match their action to the magnitude and urgency of the crisis
," he said.
This declaration comes in full diplomatic campaign.
Vanuatu seeks an opinion from the International Court of Justice on the rights of present and future generations to be protected from climate change.
An opinion that could help to put in place international legislation on the subject.
The initiative is to be debated by the UN General Assembly next September.
(
And
with
AFP
)
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