PACNEWS JUL 26 2000
SAMOA - AOSIS
Apia (Pacnews) - Samoa's acting lands and environment minister,
Matatauali'itia Afa Lesa says the ALLIANCE of SMALL ISLAND STATES
(AOSIS) is a valuable forum where Small Island States can work
together on issues of concern to all communities.
However he says it requires efforts and perseverance.
Lesa says AOSIS has come along way from it's early days and has
earned it's place and recognition in the international community,
especially on the issue of climate change.
Lesa made the comments while opening the second AOSIS workshop on
Climate Change Negotiations, Management and Strategy in Apia,
Samoa today.
He says like other AOSIS communities, Samoa has had first hand
experience in climate change with rising sea levels and increases
in hurricanes and cyclones.
He also says there have been prolonged droughts, very low tides
and increases in soil salinity which affect the island's
agriculture, tourism and economic sectors .
"Our active interest in the international negotiations on climate
change is an indication of the high priority that all island
states place on this phenomenon and on national efforts to
address climate change."
"For us, it is more than an issue of vulnerability, adaptation
and mitigation. It is indeed, an issue if survival of the island
peoples who must at all cost, protect their indigenous culture,
their fragile ecosystems, their small and highly dependent
economies and limited and low lying land area "
About 100 delegates from the 43 member states of AOSIS,
observers, universities, non-government organisations and friends
of AOSIS are attending the workshop.
Established in 1990, AOSIS members are drawn from the Pacific,
Indian Ocean and the Caribbean islands and make up 26% of the
world's developing countries.
34 of the 43 AOSIS members are represented in the United Nations.
Lesa says small island states have long argued about the
scientific uncertainties concerning climate change that a
preventative approach by the global community must go hand in
hand with the precautionary principle.
"The AOSIS countries must be persistent in their efforts, for
they will first bear the brunt of adverse impacts. Lesa said.
"The more immediate effects, especially with sea level rise will
be devastating, particularly on low lying islands like Kiribati,
Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Maldives and the Bahamas."
Lesa said the meeting in Apia will provide the useful forum for
identifying vital gaps in the climate change sector where further
information and assistance to small island states is a necessity.
"We need to identify our own national requirements to take the
best advantage of the offers of assistance that we have."
Lesa also emphasised the need for more information sharing and
effective coordination on a regional level, between respective
regions.
SOURCE: PACNEWS
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