A panel of Pacific leaders Thursday all agreed that migration was not the answer to the fight against climate change.
The panel was made up of the Kiribati President Anote Tong, Prime Minister of Tonga Samiuela Akilisi Pohiva, Tuvalu PM Enele Sopoaga and President of Federated States of Marshall Islands Christopher Loeak.
Pohiva asked why should they migrate.
He put forward three questions:
– Where will they move?
– How are they going to move?
– Who will move them?
President Tong said moving was the last resort.
He said climate change was a humanitarian issue and Pacific leaders should be talking to the right people as time was running out.
President Tong said there needs to be agreed principles on the dignified treatment of any people who flee their island homes due to climate change.
He has entirely rejected the idea of Pacific Islanders being labelled ‘climate change refugees.’
Tong even suggests that Kiribati would explore the idea of floating islands if any such technology should present itself in the future – just so that they can save a little piece of their home.
Sopoaga and Loeak both agreed that there should be no migration.
All the leaders reckoned they should not be allowed to lose their culture, traditions and customs.
United Nations Special Envoy on Climate Change Ambassador Mary Robinson says climate change is an injustice on small islands states and other countries paying the price of actions for which they aren’t responsible.
She also says it’s a human rights issue faced around the world.