PARIS,06 DECEMBER 2015 (PACNEWS) --- The Republic of Marshall Islands in the Pacific and St Lucia in the Caribbean are two vulnerable nations active in a new and growing coalition of nations pushing for 1.5 degree goal at COP21 in Paris.
Called the Coalition of High Ambition Nations, the two ministers from Marshall Islands and St Lucia took centre stage at the media conference room at Le Bourget Saturday to explain the work the group has been involved in the past week of negotiations, in their effort to step up support for the goals of the small and vulnerable nations at the frontline of climate change.
Tony de Brum of Marshall Islands said, ‘the coalition has been on a relentless campaign reaching out to any interested Party to build what Todd Stern of the US called a high ambition coalition that wants a transformational Paris Agreement.
“Let me say from the outset that as Ministers for our respective island nations in the Pacific and the Caribbean, we are here not only to save our islands, but we are here as representatives of a growing global movement that is demanding a safe climate future.
Falling short of acknowledging a division amongst Small Island Developing States, Minister de Brum said it’s much too easy and convenient for some to see this negotiation as a competition between short-term national interests.
“The fact that we are seeing so many countries reach out beyond their traditional groupings to join our mission reflects this. A favourite phrase in this negotiation is "nationally determined." We are here to fight for what is "globally necessary."
De Brum has been a strong regional and international advocate for Marshall Islands on climate change.
Minister James Fletcher from St Lucia admitted they’ve encountered some pushback from countries like India and Saudi Arabia.
“But after a week of bilateral discussions, we are now seeing a growing groundswell of opinion that support 1.5 as a thresh-hold in the Agreement.’
“We are not fighting for numbers but for lives of our people.”
On Thursday night India and Saudi Arabia attempted to block results of the two year study by the ‘expert dialogue’ group published by the UN in June which said that ‘warming up to 1.5 degrees would likely be ‘beyond the adaptive capacity of some people.’
Media reports said leaders from Riyadh and Delhi saw findings of the group as a direct threat to their economies, which rely heavily on oil and coal.
Not allowing itself to be let down by India and Saudi Arabia’s position, Minister Fletcher said the coalition pushed on with its series of bilateral meetings to develop political consensus with Parties.
“This is coming to fruition. The coalition is optimistic that we are reaching some common grounds and there is some recognition to get global temperature rise to go down to 1.5 degrees, said the St Lucia minister.
On Loss & Damage, the coalition group supports its inclusion in the legally binding Paris Agreement.
“As you know, liability and compensation are red lines for the US, EU and other rich nations. Our discussions are progressing on a mechanism that will allay fears of the US, EU and Parties and also address our concerns.
Minister Fletcher said what is left now is for lawyers to put in the best legal terms that will work for all Parties.
Both Ministers didn’t go into details on the countries that are part of the coalition.