By Cynthia Karikala
New Zealanders must look out for their Pacific neighbours when it comes to natural disasters and climate change, says a member of the Econesian Society.
With over 231,800 Pacific Islanders in New Zealand, co-chair of the Econesian Society from the University of the South Pacific Sainimere Veitata says we cannot leave our neighbours stranded in their time of need.
New Zealand’s role is important in protecting smaller Pacific nations from the negative impacts of climate change.
“As Pacific neighbours we are part of a global village where our actions implicate one another.
“As a more developed country with [people from] most Pacific islands in their population they [New Zealanders] would be a louder voice that could be heard in global meets to raise Pacific issues,” says Ms Veitata.
The effect of climate change in the Pacific is mostly caused by an increasing population and a lack of awareness of how certain actions can negatively implicate the environment.
According to a UNICEF report the New Zealand Government will be paying the price for the issues climate change will bring.
“Climate change will increase government costs over time as impacts on water and food security and changes to reef and fisheries ecosystems exacerbate existing pressures related to urbanization, changing diet and nutrition and population increase,” says the report.
Pacific Islands are particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels.
One possible plan to mitigate this may be to plant mangroves to reduce the effect of rising sea levels. Once planted, mangrove roots create a slow water flow, encouraging sediment deposition in areas where it is already occurring.
With the Pacific Islands forum to be held in New Zealand next month, practical ideas like these could be on the agenda.
Cynthia Karikala is working with UNICEF as part of the 3Youth project, an upcoming section of the 3 News website focusing on social issues and written by young people.
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