ECOT Calls for Australia and New Zealand to take Climate Refugees

Last month, the President of Kiribati (Pacific) and a chief from Tuvalu called for New Zealand and Australia to take their climate refugees. An Open Letter has now been sent by Friends of the Earth, Australia who will support the victims. The letter will be sent to the New Zealand and Australian Governments.

“What does that mean for the tourism industry?” says Tourism Scan “Despite it’s huge contribution to green house gas emissions, which cause global warming and the rise of the sea level, it will most likely continue to offer packaged holiday trips to the Pacific islands. Will the income gained from tourism help the islanders at all in their fear to loose their homelands?

Text of letter of Friends of the Earth Australia, sent Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:58:53 -0400 (EDT).Subject: [CJN!] sign-on letter to Australian and New Zealand governments: climate refugees

Open letter to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and New Zealand- Aotearoa Prime Minister Helen Clark

Dear Prime Ministers

We represent a range of communities and non-government organisations in the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand-Aotearoa,

Hundreds of thousands of people will be displaced by climate change in the coming decades. Pacific Islanders are already affected with their islands very vulnerable to sea level rises.

The Pacific Islands Forum next week is an opportunity to define a more concrete program of action to assist Pacific Islanders.

We welcome past acknowledgment of the problem the Pacific faces and expressions of a willingness to help, but now is the time for action.

Therefore we call on the Australian and New Zealand government to recognise the urgency of action on climate change and the particular threat it poses to people of the Pacific.

The Australia and New Zealand governments must begin a real process of partnership with Pacific Island countries in finding ways to prepare and assist with the displacement of Pacific Island people.

In particular the follow actions must be taken:

* substantial and urgent mitigation efforts by Australia and New Zealand and strong advocacy internationally for urgent action by developed countries to reduce greenhouse polution and de-carbonise their economies;

* a commitment of substantial resources, in addition to existing aid programs, to fund evacuation and resettlement within and between Pacific Island countries;

* a substantial increase in permanent migration from Pacific Island countries to Australia and New Zealand to help build relationships with Australia and New Zealand and to build resilience and independent resources in Pacific Island countries;

* the establishment of a special humanitarian stream within the immigration program for climate affected people;

* strong advocacy internationally for an international legal framework for assisting people displaced by climate change.

Words are not enough and waiting for the catastrophic sea level rises is not acceptable. Australia and New Zealand have the responsibility and capacity to act now. They should begin to do so.

Anything less will be seen as a betrayal of the people most affected by climate change but least responsible for it.

Friends of the Earth Australia
www.foe.org.au

Valere Tjolle