Climate change remains one of the greatest threats to the Pacific people, along with the devastating effects of non-communicable disease (NCD.)
This was reaffirmed at the 42nd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) held in Auckland on Sept. 7 and 8.
Heads of state and governments who attended included; Australia, Cook Islands, Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and the hosting country New Zealand.
Vanuatu was represented by a special envoy, while New Caledonia attended the formal session as associate members, the Forum Communique press release stated.
Those who were there to observe included, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Wallis and Futuna, the Asian Development Bank, Commonwealth Secretariat, United Nations (UN), Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and the World Bank.
The leaders welcomed the theme of the 2011 forum, ‘Converting Potential into Prosperity,’ looking at the rich resources of the Pacific region that has potential to be developed further, particularly in the tourism, fisheries and agricultural sectors.
They also highlighted the importance of education, energy and infrastructure for sustainable economic development, the press release said.
Australia and New Zealand pledged $250 million towards education in the region targeting a 75 percent literacy rate by 2021. According to UNESCO’s 2009 Global Monitoring Report, the adult literacy rates in the Pacific for 15 and over vary from 57 percent in PNG to 99 percent in Samoa and Tonga.
Australia also agreed to expand its Pacific Island seasonal workers scheme to include four more nations.
NCD Crisis
The forum found that, equally as devastating as climate change in the Pacific, was the increasing prevalence of non-communicable disease (NCD).
An estimated 75 percent of all adult deaths are due to NCD’s the Forum noted in a statement, with the majority still in their most productive years. Many more suffer side effects rendering them unable to work.
As a result, the Forum declared the ‘Pacific is in an NCD Crisis.’
The Forum also acknowledged that most interventions needed to control the disease called for a ‘whole of government and whole of society’ response.
Five key areas were targeted to help reduce the disease, the Forum concluded. They were tobacco control, healthier diet, physical activity, reduced alcohol intake, and having access to essential drugs and technologies.
The leaders also noted that many of the intervention methods were income-generating, such as increased taxes on tobacco and alcohol.
In a joint statement with United Nations Secretary-General, Ban-Ki Moon, the forum agreed climate change and ocean acidification was also needing urgent attention.
Climate change they said posed the greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and well-being of the Pacific Island people. The Forum called for urgent international action to reduce emissions.
Pacific nations also stressed the need to address relevant forums including, but not limited to, UNFCCC, the General Assembly and the UN Security Council, to look at the social, economic and security threats and adverse impacts of ocean acidification and climate change.
Many of the leaders and attendees at the Forum stayed to see the opening night kick off of the 2011 Rugby World Cup which continues in New Zealand, as this years host, from Sept. 9 to Oct. 23.
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