Grenada Environment
Minister Michael Church, whose country chairs the Alliance of Small Island
States (AOSIS) said those developed countries who polluted in the biggest way
over the history of industrialization must make the biggest sacrifices now.
"We believe
the historical responsibility becomes an extremely important and critical
element in what we do now and in the future," Church told Xinhua in a
recent interview.
"In other
words, we should not, not withstanding our smallness, we should not sit back
and allow countries to get away by not taking their responsibilities. It has
nothing to do with ideologies. It has everything to do with the survival of man
on this planet."
Small island
nations face the direct threat of climate change. For the 42 member nations of
AOSIS, survival is non-negotiable.
AOSIS insists
the increase in global temperatures must be kept below 1.5 degrees Celsius
above the pre-industrial level. If not, island countries such as the Maldives
and Tavulu may disappear in this century,Church warned.
"Because of
the sacrifices we have made, they could develop," said Church referring to
the developed countries. "It is time now they look at how they can begin
an orderly exchange or transfer of technology, financing for adaptation and
mitigation so that the entire world will get benefits in a more sustainable
manner as we proceed with development."
Church spoke to Xinhua in his office in St. George, capital ofGrenada , an island country situated in the
southernmost tip of the Windward Islands of the Caribbean
Sea .
Church spoke to Xinhua in his office in St. George, capital of
Church stressed
the environment-friendly technologies available should not be withheld from
small countries and developing countries.
"We must
get to the point where we can exchange in the most reasonable way these
technologies for the advancement of mankind...the transfer of technology should
not be solely or predominately driven by the profit motive, but more so by our
desire to make progress," Church said.
He thinks China and AOSIS
have a lot in common in terms of climate change policy. "I've noticed that
we have very very much in common. China is one of the very few
countries, bigger countries that have really indicated an understanding of the
position of small island states," he said.
Source: Xinhua
Photo Credit: Michael Bascombe
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