<
https://theconversation.com/the-seas-are-coming-for-us-in-kiribati-will-australia-rehome-us-172137>
"Our atoll nation is barely two metres above sea level, and the waters are
coming for us.
Despite the progress and momentum of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow,
we are still not moving fast enough to avoid the worst of climate change.
It is heartening that more than 190 countries and organisations agreed to
rapidly phase out coal power and end support for new coal power stations. More
than 100 countries signed a pledge to cut methane emissions 30% by the end of
the decade, and about the same number agreed to stop deforestation on an
industrial scale in the same timeframe.
But even with these agreements, we in Kiribati face the death of our homeland.
Co-author Anote Tong led our country as president for 15 years, alongside lead
author Akka Rimon, who was foreign secretary between 2014 and 2016.
The problem is speed. Our land is disappearing faster than global action can
stem climate change. Delays and a lack of global leadership mean the existence
of small island states like Kiribati is now in the balance.
That means we must urgently find ways to rehome our people. It is very
difficult to leave our homes, but there is no choice. Time is not on our side.
We must prepare for a difficult future.
What we need is a model where displaced people can migrate to host nations when
their homes become uninhabitable. Countries like Australia need workers – and
we will soon need homes.
This is, increasingly, a question of justice. Australia’s actions, in
particular, raise questions over how sincere it is in honouring its recent
commitments at COP26.
As the world’s largest exporter of fossil gas and the second largest exporter
of coal, Australia’s reluctance to change is putting its neighbours in the
Pacific at risk of literally disappearing. It is the only developed nation not
committed to cut emissions at least in half by 2030.
In Glasgow, Fiji urged Australia to take real action by halving emissions by
2030. Did it work? No. Australia also refused to sign the agreements on ending
coal’s reign, with prominent politicians undermining the COP26 agreement as
soon as the conference was over.
We desperately hope the commitments Australia did make at COP26 are not just
words on paper. But if they are, that makes our need for certainty even more
urgent.
Let us speak plainly: If Australia really does plan to sell as much of its
fossil fuel reserves as possible and drag its feet on climate action, the least
it can do is help us survive the rising seas caused by the burning of its coal
and gas."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
