By Morten Andersen 09 nov. 2009
The Maldives and ten other small island states delivered a strong message to NGO representatives ahead of next month’s UN climate change conference in Copenhagen: Save us – for your own sake.
“If you can’t save us, you can’t really say you are saving the globe.”
Through a video link, Mohamed Aslam, environment minister for the Maldives, went straight to the point as he addressed an international forum of NGO representatives gathered in Copenhagen Monday for a warm-up ahead of next month’s UN climate change conference in the Danish capital.
The minister stressed that he disliked the word “negotiations” as a description of what lies ahead:
“This is really not like a business negotiation where the players win or lose. In climate change either we all win or we all lose. We have waited more than a decade now and nothing has happened. The time has come to stop waiting to see what others will do and instead show the world: this is what we’ll do.”
Following its own prescription, the Maldives announced its decision earlier this year to become the world’s first carbon neutral state within a decade. Mr. Aslam told the NGO representatives that he and colleagues from ten other small island states are about to announce their joint decision to go carbon neutral within a relatively short time frame. In fact Mohamed Aslam was addressing the gathering in Copenhagen during a break in their meeting.
“We are working out the details. I know that our decision will not have a great impact on the atmospheric carbon content, but it will show the world that we are doing the right thing. This will give us the moral authority to lead the struggle. It is getting very late for us but we will not go down without a fight.”
On the issue of finance for adaptation the minister commented:
“So far this has just been big talk. We haven’t seen any money yet. All we have seen is consultants that have visited us to write big reports that are not being used. But don’t get me wrong. We don’t want to be beggars. However, we don’t want to take the same path that you (the industrialized countries) have taken and which has resulted in this situation. We want to move on a green path and we are aware that we depend on help for that. But we want to become self-sufficient as soon as possible.”
Asked whether the Maldives would be ready to sign an agreement in Copenhagen if it contained emission cuts for industrialized countries weaker than the 40 percent called for by the Association of Small Island States, Mohamed Aslam was categorical:
“We will not sign on a suicidal agreement.”
