<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/no-joke-climate-impacts-not-a-punchline-palau-president-takes-swipe-at-dutton/>
"The president of Palau has urged Australia to persist in the joint bid with
its Pacific Island neighbours to co-host COP31 climate talks in 2026, following
Peter Dutton’s suggestion last week that a Coalition government would abandon
the plans.
In an address to the Smart Energy Conference in Sydney on Wednesday, Surangel
Samuel Whipps Jr reminded the largely Australian audience that Pacific Island
nations are among the most vulnerable to climate change and the most determined
to do something about it.
“From our vantage point, there is no more important diplomatic gathering each
year than the [Conference of Parties],” Whipps told the audience at the Sydney
International Convention Centre.
“Bringing the COP to the Pacific at this moment would allow the world to
witness both the crisis and the leadership up close to see not only the
devastating impacts of climate change, but also the real local, scalable
solutions that Australia and Pacific nations are already delivering.
“We cannot let this moment pass without giving the Pacific a platform,” he
said. “Hosting COP31 in our region is not just about symbolism. It is a test of
fairness, balance and integrity in the global climate process.
“Our people expect COP31 to be a defining moment, one where we confront and
resolve the difficult issues, even when they are uncomfortable for us to
discuss.”
The Palau president also used the opportunity to take a thinly veiled swipe at
the leader of the opposition for his 2015 “hot mic” gaffe, when then
immigration minister Dutton was caught joking to then prime minister Tony
Abbott and future PM Scott Morrison about how a meeting running late was on
“Cape York time” and that “time doesn’t mean anything when you’re, you know,
about to have water lapping at your door.”
“For those of us in the Pacific who have …lived through storm surges, rising
ocean levels and increasing high tides, the phrase water lapping at our door is
not a metaphor or a punch line,” Whipps said.
“It’s our fear and our reality. And I can assure you of this – whether you’re
in Sydney, Palau or Cape York, time is everything and we do not have time to
waste.”"
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
