Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

My country may be swept away by the climate crisis if the rest of the world fails to uphold its promises

Now is a time for courage. It will take sacrifices from everyone for us all to survive, the president of the Marshall Islands writes
My country joined the United Nations nearly 30 years ago, in September 1991. But unless my fellow member states take action, we may also be forced from it: the first country to see our land swept away by climate change.

As the UN general assembly meets in New York, celebrating the 75th anniversary of its formation, we must ask: how many of the 193 nations that it brings together will survive to reach its centenary?

Once, the Marshallese travelled between atolls on canoes. Night after night on the open water, a watchman stayed alert to warn of oncoming danger.

Today, we are the world’s watchman.

Climate change is here. Countries on the frontline like mine are already planning how we can adapt to survive, and know that we cannot do so unless the developed world lives up to the commitments of the Paris agreement and provides us with the support we need.

This pandemic is a reminder of how connected we are. At the beginning of Covid-19’s spread, we closed our borders early, and through this urgent action we have avoided any cases of this virus.

But isolation comes at great cost.

Our dependence on global supply chains – designed for efficiency but not resilience – has exposed our vulnerabilities. The fisheries sector, a backbone of our economy, is under threat.

For many of my fellow island nations, the pandemic is even more devastating. The collapse of tourism will saddle future generations with crippling debt, and with fewer resources to respond to the unrelenting climate crisis.

As a nation comprised of low-lying atolls, we know we cannot solve these challenges alone. We are on the leading edge of climate ambition; we were the first to submit an improved target under the climate plans that Paris agreement signatories committed to update every five years.

We are not alone among vulnerable nations. We stand alongside the 43 other states that make up the Alliance of Small Island States, who stand to lose the most in the climate crisis.

But even the boldest national actions won’t secure our future. Major emitters must uphold their promises, or my country’s pathway to survival is threatened.

Even if they do and we stay within 1.5C, all countries will need to adapt to the effects of climate change.

At today’s estimated global temperature rise of 1C, we already feel its impact in devastating king tides, intense droughts and increasingly frequent outbreaks of mosquito-borne illnesses.

Today, my government is hard at work on a national adaptation plan, reaching out to communities across the nation.

I am inspired by my people’s determination to adapt in a way that not only ensures survival, but secures a fairer and more just future.

To achieve this we cannot afford for developed nations to just pay lip service to the principle of “loss and damage”.

Put bluntly, we need the funding, not just promises of it. Our future relies on the $100bn of climate finance per year that the developing world is entitled to, and that the developed world agreed to mobilise.

But international cooperation is being tested. Multilateralism is needed more than ever, but is in retreat.

The necessary postponement of the world’s major annual climate meeting, COP-26, cannot be an excuse for delayed action.

Even more frustratingly, the opportunity posed by Covid-19 recovery spending risks being squandered. With trillions on the line, we have an unprecedented chance to transform the global economy towards a zero-carbon future.

Instead, many governments are taking actions that directly undermine other nations’ right to self-determination.

Some counterparts in industrial nations are continuing to subsidise the fossil fuel industry. Or reinvesting in coal. Or bailing out polluters without conditions.

Now is a time for compassion, and for courage; for countries to recognise that it will take sacrifice and solidarity for all of us to survive.

It is only if we place the protection of the most vulnerable at the core of our efforts that we have a fighting chance for a lasting recovery.

In the face of the planet’s existential challenge, UN members must contemplate the future that inaction will bring – one in which the ranks of this noble institution may be diminished.

All states are presumed sovereign but equal: within the UN we all have a seat at the table.

The Marshall Islands is doing everything in its power to ensure that we will be there for the next UN anniversary.

The question is: will our global family also do what it must to save our seat?
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Hungary's Prime Minister Criticizes NATO's Role in Ukraine
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Hungarian Scientist to Conduct 30 Research Experiments on the International Space Station
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
Oil Prices Set to Surge After US Strikes Iran
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Hungary Ranked Among the World’s Safest Travel Destinations for 2025
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
×