Amplifying climate voice

SUVA – Two weeks away from the Paris Summit on Climate Change, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) is trying its best to amplify the voices of the Pacific.

PIFS hopes that online communities will learn more about the impacts of climate change as well as the actions that Pacific islanders are undertaking as they adapt to the effects being experienced.

A statement from the secretariat says a range of social media messages will be released using the hashtag #4PacIslands on a regular basis as the world counts down to COP21.

“In December history will be made in Paris, France, with the anticipated sign off on a global climate change agreement at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21),” the secretariat said.

“In the lead-up to the global event, regional organisations have come together to help raise the voice of the Pacific islands through a social media campaign using #4PacIslands.”

Director general of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) David Sheppard said Pacific islanders were well versed with the impacts of climate change in their communities and the actions they had taken to try and address the issue before them.

“What we call upon now is your support to share these stories of both climate impact and climate action with people around the world by sharing our online messages and by using the #4PacIslands tag.”

Endorsing the joint social media campaign, Secretariat of the Pacific Community director general, Dr Colin Tukuitonga appealed for widespread public support to help have Pacific voices heard at the UN climate conference in Paris and beyond.

“Climate change is a real and important threat to the livelihoods and sustainable development of Pacific people and it’s imperative for us to have the Pacific perspective echoing in Paris and around the world,” Dr Tukuitonga said.