Earth Science News
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
UN chief says 'obscene' that small islands pay climate consequences
UN chief says 'obscene' that small islands pay climate consequences
by AFP Staff Writers
United Nations, United States (AFP) May 27, 2024

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday it is "obscene" that small island states, which are on the front line of climate change, should pay for the fossil fuel industry's greed and competition between major economies.

"Your unique geography puts you at the mercy of climate chaos, rising sea levels and land degradation," Guterres said at the opening of the fourth Small Island Developing States (SIDS) summit in the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda.

"Climate change is an existential crisis for the entire human family, but SIDS are on the front lines," he told the conference of 39 states, whose populations number roughly 65 million people.

SIDS are extremely vulnerable to climate change but not rich enough to stop it on their own. One key hope from the summit is increased climate financing -- though many criticize the slow pace of fulfilling previous UN aid pledges.

"We cannot accept the disappearance of any country or culture under the rising waves," Guterres said.

"The idea that an entire island state could become collateral damage for profiteering by the fossil fuel industry, or competition between major economies, is simply obscene," he added.

Guterres said the United Nations supported SIDS' aspirations to "halt and mitigate the terrible impacts of the climate crisis," as well as to protect the ocean and biodiversity, and to build resilient economies.

He urged SIDS governments to invest and engage in these goals but said they "cannot do this alone."

"The international community has a duty to support you -- led by the countries that have greatest responsibility and capacity to deal with the challenges you face," Guterres said.

"SIDS are a test case for climate justice and financial justice," he added.

Last week, the UN maritime court ruled in favor of nine small island states that brought a case to seek increased protection of the world's oceans from catastrophic climate change.

The countries that brought the case called the court decision "historic," and experts said it could be influential in shaping the scope of future climate litigation involving greenhouse gas emissions.

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
A world of storm and tempest
When the Earth Quakes

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Papua New Guinea reports more than 2,000 people buried in landslide
Port Moresby (AFP) May 27, 2024
More than 2,000 people have been buried in a Papua New Guinea landslide that destroyed a remote highland village, the government warned Monday as it called for international help in the rescue effort. The once-bustling hillside village in Enga province was almost wiped out when a chunk of Mount Mungalo collapsed in the early hours of Friday morning, smothering scores of homes and the people sleeping inside them. "The landslide buried more than 2,000 people alive and caused major destruction to ... read more

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
UN chief says 'obscene' that small islands pay climate consequences

Xi says China 'deeply pained' by 'severe' Gaza situation

Tribal violence, rain and mosquitoes: making sense of the PNG landslide

Pier damage forces suspension of US aid shipments to Gaza: Pentagon

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Cool by design 3D printing

Musk plans largest-ever supercomputer for xAI startup: report

Virginia Tech Engineers Lower Leidenfrost Effect Temperature

Google to invest $2 bn in Malaysia: government

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Panama's first climate change displaced bid their island farewell

Texas team creates first global map of seafloor biodiversity activity

Taiwan's oyster farmers on frontline of China war games

Europe's water contamined by PFAS chemical: NGOs

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Successful satellite launch will let NASA measure polar heat loss

For sale: unique piece of land in strategic Arctic archipelago

Climate change key driver of record-low Antarctic sea ice: study

For sale: unique piece of land in strategic Arctic archipelago

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
China lifts trade bans on Australian beef with 'immediate effect'

Rainy spring weather plagues Bordeaux vines with mildew

Simple food swaps could cut greenhouse gas emissions by a quarter

Brazil farmer who lost everything to floods recalls water's fury

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Floating walkways a lifeline for Brazilians after floods

Lava spews again from volcanic eruption in Iceland

Deadly Bangladesh cyclone one of longest seen

12 Indians killed in quarry collapse after cyclone rains

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Jailed Burkina army officer abducted day after release

Rights group wants probe into post-coup 'killings' in DR Congo

Mali army says kills 'large number' of jihadists

Nigeria jihadists kill around 30 in reprisal attacks

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
JK Rowling says regrets not speaking out sooner on trans issues

Record low level of Hong Kong's young adults want children: survey

Can we rid artificial intelligence of bias?

Amazonian chief at UN to combat traditional knowledge piracy

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.