SENIOR officials of the governments of the Republic of Korea and fourteen Pacific island countries reaffirmed cooperation to achieve a legally binding agreement at the international climate change talks at COP 21 in Paris later this year.
“Pacific island states are some of the most vulnerable to climate change. The world must give special consideration for small island developing states, given our common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities with regard to addressing climate change,” said Mr Albon Ishoda, the Republic of Marshall Islands’ representative to the Third Republic of Korea-Pacific Islands Senior Officials Meeting on 6 October 2015.
Pacific islands countries also called on South Korea, as host to the Green Climate Fund Secretariat to support direct access to climate finance for small island developing states and Least Developed Countries, and highlighted the need for grant funded modalities.
The Pacific Island Forum Leaders Declaration on Climate Change Action, agreed at their 46th Forum held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea last month, urged the amplification of the Pacific voice through all avenues as the world prepares for the COP 21 discussions.
The Post-Forum Dialogue relationship between Pacific island countries and the Republic of Korea, as well as other PFD partners, is significant in building support for the Pacific position ahead of COP 21.
