Climate Change

He pledged to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, which leading nations signed in April, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Donald Trump doesn't believe global warming is a real threat to the USA.

He tweeted his opinions on the matter in 2012 and 2014, although later denied his tweets, when challenged by Hillary Clinton.

Globally, forced displacement related to disasters as well as the adverse effects of climate is a reality and among the biggest humanitarian challenges facing the international community in the 21st century.

According to the Platform for Disaster Displacement, formerly the Nansen Initiative, between 2008 and 2014 a total of 184.4 million people were displaced by sudden-onset disasters, an average of 26.4 million people newly displaced each year.

The President-Elect Donald Trump has previously said he will cancel the US commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement.

Sylvie Goyet, who is part of the SPC delegation at COP22, said Pacific countries need to remain positive and ambitious in their focus on climate change action.

She said the meeting in Marrakesh is about action and implementation on climate change mitigation.

Ms Goyet said she expects the COP22 groups, including the Alliance of Small Island States, to call for immediate talks with the US President-Elect.

Donald Trump Photo: AFP

The team was led by Professor Dag Rune Olsen, Rector, University of Bergen (DRO) and comprised Professor Tore Furevik, Director of the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research; Professor Edvard Hviding, Director of the Bergen Pacific Studies Research Group; and Ms Nina B. Dahl, Studies Adviser in Anthropology

Professor Olsen stated that there are opportunities for further collaboration and expansion of the existing collaboration between the two universities.

The team was led by Professor Dag Rune Olsen, Rector, University of Bergen (DRO) and comprised Professor Tore Furevik, Director of the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research; Professor Edvard Hviding, Director of the Bergen Pacific Studies Research Group; and Ms Nina B. Dahl, Studies Adviser in Anthropology

Professor Olsen stated that there are opportunities for further collaboration and expansion of the existing collaboration between the two universities.

 Playing a pivotal role with the Alliance of Small Islands States (AOSIS) at the Climate Conference in December last year which brought about the Paris Agreement, the Pacific islands have shown solidarity yet again in ratifying the Agreement which starts from the year 2020.

Malielegaoi was adamant on his remarks towards the efforts by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in combating climate change.

“In celebrating National Environment week, we should all take part in the action taken. For years the government has been singing the same song of warning and advisory, to take care of the environment,” he said.

“Your actions today will ensure a better future for your children and grandchildren. It will ensure a future at least,” he said.

  It is these information that Meteorological Office Chief Executive Officer Mulipola Ausetalia Titimaea says will be critical to efforts by Samoa in resilience to extreme events.

“We are the only country in the Pacific with more than a hundred years of weather patterns and meteorological data records. Since 1890 we have been recording and keeping track of the patterns and these will be used again in the future,” he said.

“So it is important we learn to manage data, and as well as read them and interpret them,” he added.

Tuilaepa says sea level rise is an effect of global warming and illegal fishing is harming Samoa’s present and threatens its future.

“That is our biggest fear, which is why our focus must be wide to target the changes in the climate and address the many problems harming our waters,” he said.

“The first is sea level rise, the predictions by experts say at the current change rate, Samoa in thirty years would be much different from what it is now. Most villages would have to move inland,” he said.

But the celebrations have reflected an urgency among Tuvaluans who are trying to keep their culture alive and strong, while their small island nation is sinking.