PR – Deputy Prime Minister Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo has been elected Chairman for the Third Oceania 21 Leaders' Summit to be held in Noumea in 2015.
His election followed Second Oceania Summit, which took place in Noumea from 29 June – 2 July 2014.
The Oceania 21 Summit originally established in 2012 as the (Pacific) "Leaders' Summit" and supported by 15 Pacific Island States and Territories, was conceived after the Rio+20 event with the aim of galvanizing Pacific support to promote sustainable development, share innovatory experiences, design joint projects and examine consequences of climate change events on the Pacific Island nations.
The initiative was instigated by the Pacific Island nations' perception of the lack of reactivity from the international community following the Copenhagen Conference, 2012, and the Warsaw Conference, 2013, leading to the conclusion that the Pacific Islands could no longer rely on other countries to take action on their behalf as the first victims of climate change.
Following this realisation, a first meeting was held in 2013 where 15 Pacific Island nations, Fiji, Kiribati, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna and New Caledonia, decided to unite their voices and actions within a grouping called “OCEANIA 21” and consolidated a joint declaration entitled "Help us save Tokelau" which was consequently signed on April 27, 2013 in Noumea, New Caledonia.
The Second Oceania Summit, held in Noumea last week, brought together 22 States and Territories beyond the 15 signatory members, and illustrated the significant progress so far, thanks to Oceania 21, notably the creation in April 2014 of an "International Protected Marine Area" named the "Coral Sea Marine Park".
The expansive, protected marine area of 1.4million km2 bordering Australia includes land terrain of several ‘Ocean 21’ nations.
Delivering his official address during the Second Summit, Fonotoe stated, "Although Samoa's contribution to global warming is insignificant, the Government of Samoa remains committed to the ideal that climate change mitigation is EVERYONE'S responsibility."
Fonotoe also spoke at length on the research and development being implemented within Samoa towards discovering alternative renewable energy sources, not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also to raise Samoa's energy self sufficiency and ultimately improve the quality of life for all citizens.
Samoa receives the Chairmanship from New Caledonia who held this position for the Second Summit.
<!-- 336x280 (bottom-article) -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-2469982834957525"
data-ad-slot="1033882026"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>{/googleAds}
<!-- ads-articles(24.03.14) -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-9419815128221199"
data-ad-slot="2395638412"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>{/googleAds}