CANCUN, 11 December 2010 – For the second year in a row, the Pacific Small Island Developing States (Pacific Islands) asked Islands First to provide research, strategic and media support for their delegations attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun (COP16). Islands First greatly expanded our support of the Pacific Islands throughout the year at the climate change negotiations, which culminated at COP16 in Cancun. Working together with our NGO partners and Yale and Lewis & Clark Law Schools, Islands First provided Pacific delegations with an expansive list of resources, including briefing memos on key topics in advance of the negotiations, rapid response legal support, an online information sharing platform with real-time updating during the conference, a media support team that resulted in global coverage of Pacific Island perspectives and a press conference for Pacific heads of state, and more. Preparatory work months advance of the Conference.
COP16 saw a number of remarkable achievements that where enabled in part by the Islands First team. The Pacific Islands put the world on notice regarding the dangerous impacts that climate change is having in their countries, delivering statements in the opening statements as a bloc for the first time. This was followed by a successful media campaign that highlighted the human impacts of climate change in the Pacific. This message was covered in respected media outlets around the world, including the New York Times, the Guardian, Associated Press, AFP, and many others. A sample of the coverage follows:
- "For Us In the Pacific It's About Survival", Guardian
- "Nauru Leader Fears Death By Jargon", AFP
- "Countries least responsible for climate change are those most threatened by it", Democracy Now
- "UN's Tiniest Nation: 'Help! We're Drowning'", Mother Jones
- "At the climate summit, the real action is behind the scenes", Washington Post
- "Island Nations Plead for Their Lives as World Dawdles at Climate Talks", Reuters
A number of important issues in the negotiations must be resolved during the course of 2011, including agreement on stronger mitigation targets and actions for countries and long-term sources of funding for urgent adaptation and mitigation projects in developing countries. In addition, a number of the institutional reforms decided at COP16, including a new Adaptation Committee, Technology Mechanism and Green Climate Find, must be operationalized at COP17. A strong Pacific voice in 2011 will be crucial for maintaining progress at the negotiations in 2011. Islands First has already begun its work to make sure the Pacific is heard.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Mark Jariabka
mark.jariabka@islandsfirst.org
(646) 460-0677
ENDS.