By Deanna Harris
Oxfam is calling for a Wave of Change today as they deliver the Protect Our Pacific from Climate Change petition to Parliament.
The petition is a show of support for the Pacific in the lead up to the UN climate change conference in Cancun at the end of this month.
It is one of two Oxfam petitions running concurrently, the other is the Wave of Change which calls for a fair climate deal.
“In New Zealand we think that it is vital that the New Zealand Government put attention on the effects of climate change in the Pacific.
“What we want is the New Zealand government to take the lead,” says Oxfam spokesperson Jason Garman.
Mr Garman says the Pacific region is one of the most vulnerable in the world to the impacts of climate change even though the people have done almost nothing to cause the problem.
He says communities are already facing food shortages, fresh water shortages, eroding coastlines, worsening king tides and unpredictable weather.
One example is the Carteret Islands, 86km off of the coast of Bougainville, in Papa New Guinea.
“The population of approximately 2500 people are struggling with higher king tides, eroding shorelines, salination of their fresh water supplies and food crops. Some of the families have started migrating to mainland Bougainville.”
He says a global climate fund needs to be established at the conference in Cancun, where wealthy governments help poor communities cope with climate change.
“We want to see that some progress is made.
“We are showing that we can help 10s of millions of people around the world if we provide support to this global fund.”
He says it is essential that industrialised countries live up to their responsibilities and help build the resilience of those worst effected by climate change.
“We are showing the New Zealand Government that the New Zealand public supports stronger action on climate change in the Pacific. We are part of the Pacific.
“At this point the government could be doing a lot more.”
Starting at 12:30pm today on the steps of Parliament Pacific Island youth organiser, Luana Bosanquet-Heays, will present the Protect Our Pacific petition to political leaders, along with a mention of Oxfam’s Wave of Change petition.
The event will also feature Pacific Island speakers and traditional drumming.
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