Climate change “single greatest threat” Pacific leaders agree [1]
Friday, September 7, 2018 - 16:49. Updated on Friday, September 7, 2018 - 17:23.
All 18 member states of the Pacific Islands Forum including Tonga, endorsed the Boe Declaration in Nauru on Wednesday 5 September, the final day of the 49th PIF Leaders Meeting.
The Boe Declaration declares ten paragraphs, one of which reaffirms that climate change is the “single greatest threat” to the Pacific Region.
The ten declarations are written as follows:
- We reaffirm that climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific and our commitment to progress the implementation of the Paris Agreement;
- We recognise an increasingly complex regional security environment driven by multifaceted security challenges , and a dynamic geopolitical environment leading to an increasingly crowded and complex region;
- We affirm our stewardship of the Blue Pacific and aspire to strengthen and enhance our capacity to pursue our collective security interests given our responsibility to sustain our Pacific peoples and our resources;
- We respect and assert the sovereign right of every Member to conduct its national affairs free of external interference and coercion;
- We reaffirm the right of Members to individually and collectively address security issues and concerns;
- We reaffirm the importance of the rules-based international order founded on the UN Charter, adherence to relevant international law and resolution of international disputes by peaceful means;
- We affirm an expanded concept of security which addresses the wide range of security issues in the region, both traditional and non-traditional, with an increasing emphasis on: a. Human Security, including humanitarian assistance, to protect the rights, health and prosperity of Pacific people;
- We recognise that national security impacts on regional security, and therefore commit to strengthening our respective national security approaches by:
a. developing our national security strategies; and,
b. strengthening national security capacity including through training. - We commit to strengthening the existing regional security architecture inclusive of regional law enforcement secretariats and regional organisations to:
a. account for the expanded concept of security;
b. identify and address emerging security challenges;
c. improve coordination among existing security mechanisms;
d. facilitate open dialogue and strengthened information sharing;
e. further develop early warning mechanisms;
f. support implementation;
g. promote regional security analysis, assessment and advice; and,
h. engage and cooperate, where appropriate, with international organisations, partners and other relevant stakeholders. - We commit to continuing regular Leaders level discussions on the expanded concept of security as part of securing our Blue Pacific.
b. Environmental and resource security;
c. Transnational crime; and,
d. Cybersecurity, to maximise protections and opportunities for Pacific infrastructure and peoples in the digital age.