Pacific Island Forum Leaders made a commitment to be Climate Leaders when they adopted the Majuro Declaration for Climate Leadership in Majuro, Marshall Islands early this month, 5 September.

To lead is to act, according to Pacific Leaders, in making the declaration that outlined their commitment to reduce and phase down green house gas pollution to avert a climate crisis.

It has been predicted that unless humans take decisive action to reduce greehouse gas emissions, temperatures are projected to rise by 4 degrees Celsius or more, above pre-industrial levels by the end of the 21^st century.

The Declaration pointed out that there is an overwhelming scientific consensus that escalating greenhouse gas emissions continue to cause the sharp rise in average global temperatures over the past century.

Urgent action

It noted that on 9 May 2013, the atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide measured near the summit of Mauna Loa in Hawaii exceeded 400 parts per million for the first time since measurements began, and that the world has "entered a new danger zone."

"We, the Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum, underline the need for urgent action at all levels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions . . .

"We confirm the responsibility of all to act to urgently reduce and phase down greenhouse gas pollution in order to avert a climate crisis for present and future generations. ... We commit to be Climate Leaders," stated the declaration.

The Declaration will be presented by the Chair of the Pacific Forum to the Secretary-General of the United Nations as a contribution to his efforts to catalyze ambitious and legally-binding climate change agreements by 2015.

The Pacific Islands Forum countries, which adopted the Declaration included Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, and stated target commitments.

Australia will reduce its greenhouse gas emission by 25% on 2000 levels by 2020, and 20% of its electricity generation will be from renewable sources by 2020.

The Cook Islands, according to its Renewable energy Chart, 50% of its electricity will be provided by renewable energy in 2015 and 100% by 2020.

The Federated States of Micronesia, 10% of electricity in urban centers and 50% in rural areas will be generated using renewable energy sources by 2020.

Kiribati targeted a reduction in fuel for electricity generation by 2015: 45% in South Tarawa; 60% in Kiritimati; 60% in Rural public infrastructure and 100% in rural public and private institutions.

Nauru aimed for 50% of electricity generation to be provided by renewable energy by 2020.

New Zealand is prepared to take on a Greenhouse Gas emissions reductions target of between 10% and 20% below 1990 levels by 2020, if there is a comprehensive global agreement. This means that the global agreement sets the world on a pathway to limiting temperature rise to no more than 2 degrees Celsius.

New Zealand also aimed for 90% of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2015.

Niue aimed for 100% of electricity generation from renewable energy sources by 2020.

Palau aimed for renewable energy to contribute 20% of its electricity by 2020. It also aimed to reduce its energy consumption through energy efficiency an conservation.

Papua New Guinea aimed to reduce its Greenhouse Gas Emission by at lease 50% before 2030 and to become carbon neutral before 2050.

The Marshall Islands aimed for the electrification of 100% of urban households and 95% of rural outer atoll households by 2015. It also aimed for the provision of 20% of energy through indigenous renewable resources by 2020.

Samoa aimed to reduce the volume of imported fossil fuels by 10% by 2016, increase in the contribution of Renewable Energy to total energy consumption by 10% by 2016.

Solomon Islands aims for 50% of electricity generation from renewable energy sources by 2015.

Tonga

Tonga aimed to reduce Greenhouse Gas emission and for renewable energy sources to contribute 50% to Tonga's total electricity consumption by 2020.

Tuvalu aimed for 100% renewable energy power generation between 2013 and 2020.

Vanuatu aimed for 100% renewable energy by 2020. To achieve its target to achieve 40% of power generation through renewables by 2015 and then 65% by 2020.