President James Michel has made a powerful appeal to world leaders for protection of the human right of small island states to exist.

Addressing the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Wednesday, he said: “Like the leaders of other small island states, I am not here to celebrate the limited progress but to speak out once again, as we have always done, of our fight for survival, our human right to exist.

“We are here to fight for a deal based on equality and fairness.” 
The President said the current situation in the negotiation process is not satisfactory and without a legally binding and just solution, countries around the world will not take action on climate change, or that action will be limited.

He said the present situation is in effect a “rich man’s deal”, which will only reinforce existing inequalities between developed and developing countries.

“A perfumed declaration offers little hope to the farmer, the fisherman, the villagers and coastal populations directly affected already,” said Mr Michel.

“An insubstantial declaration will also not safeguard the riches some have amassed in the long run. We need an agreement to save our common future.”   

Mr Michel pointed out that the Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, as well as African countries affected by drought and desertification, are the ones most affected by climate change and yet they are the least guilty of causing it.

“Today we must listen to the voice of reason, the voice of realism. We are here because we know that climate change is already with us,” he said.

“It is already threatening the existence of humanity. History will judge us either as courageous leaders who took measures to save humanity or as politicians who abdicated our responsibilities and brought about immense suffering and hardship.”

Amid the doubts expressed by country and group negotiators at the conference, the President asked world leaders to reconsider the importance of this event for future generations and push hard for a resolution to the impasse.

“In Copenhagen 2009, the fate of our planet is being decided – either to let it live or let it die an agonising death,” he said.

“We must commit to a sustainable deal for the world. It is a choice we make for the future of humanity. Let us save humanity together.”

Seychelles, which launched its climate change strategy at the conference, is one of the smallest producers of greenhouse gas emissions in the world with over half its land mass declared as nature reserves.

It is aiming to be climate-neutral by 2020, with investment in renewable energy as well as energy-saving technology.

Source: NATION 12-18-09 

Forrás: http://www.seychellesweekly.com/December%2020,%202009/p01_michel_copenhagen.html