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NATIONAL STATEMENT AT THE
United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development- Rio +20
His Excellency Christopher Jorebon Loeak
President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
Pavilion 5, Rio Centro
June 21, 2012
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Madam President Dilma Roussef, the Chair of the Conference,
Excellencies, Mr. Secretary-General, Distinguished Ladies and
Gentlemen:
Let me, at the outset, take this opportunity to express my deep
appreciation to Her Excellency President Rousseff and the people of
Rio de Janeiro for your warmth and gracious hospitality.
Excellencies,
“While the Marshall Islands understands the reluctance of some
nations to fully commit to binding and definitive agreements at this
time, we are also deeply concerned that if there is not a consensus to
undertake serious preventative and restorative action on a global
scale, time may run out.”
These were the words spoken at the first Rio Earth Summit, at this
very site, two decades ago by His Excellency Amata Kabua, the first
President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Reflecting on my
predecessor’s prophetic words, I now must tell the world that,
twenty years later, Time Has Run Out.
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Excellencies,
The Marshall Islands is a small Pacific island nation sitting less than
two meters above sea level in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean.
With the world now sitting on the sharp edge of a catastrophic
environmental tipping point, what were deemed distant risks twenty
years ago have become increasingly evident realities.
We have no more time to waste on the damaging North-South
politics that have undermined these negotiations. In the absence of
collective action, the world’s most vulnerable nations will be the
victims. This is not the future we want.
All nations are equal in this place. I am greatly concerned at the
exclusion of certain island states from participating in this crucial
global forum. Every country, including those not represented here,
has the responsibility to ensure the long-term viability and survival
of its people, its cultures, and its nationhood. But this challenge is a
generational one, and must be tackled collectively. The world’s
most vulnerable cannot be ‘collateral damage’ for other nations’
economic growth.
Action speaks louder than words, particularly when it comes to the
obscure and inadequate words negotiated here in Rio. Sustainable
development is best measured through results – the successes and
failures – witnessed everyday, on the ground, in local communities.
The Marshall Islands is not waiting for others to act. We are leading
with action towards a sustainable future.
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Excellencies,
Many see the Marshall Islands as a small island state. In reality, we
are a “large ocean nation”. Our green economy is really a “blue
economy”, and our fisheries are by far our most precious resource.
We have to protect this resource, even over the apparent objections
of large, distant fishing nations licensed by us.
With other Pacific nations, including the Parties to the Nauru
Agreement, we are setting the global pace on sustainable fisheries.
As stewards of more than half of the world's tuna, these Parties are
taking actions to ensure a sustainable fishery, sharply curb
overfishing, and advance our development aspirations. We have put
a ban on high seas fishing as a condition of access to our rich waters.
With retail partners, we are certifying our own Pacific brand of free
school skipjack tuna with the Marine Stewardship Council. And we
have also established the world's largest shark sanctuary, through a
national ban on finning.
Through the Micronesia Challenge, we have committed ourselves to
one of the world's most ambitious targets to conserve our coastal
areas and land. We are achieving these goals through our
sustainable financing plan and endowment, and welcome new
partners.
Excellencies,
For centuries, our traditional leaders and communities have set aside
reefs and coastal fisheries in conservation areas to sustain the coral
reef and island resources we depend upon. The Namdrik atoll
community, recipient last night of the Equator Prize here in Rio, is
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one proud example of our conservation achievements.
It is known to all in this room that the window to avoid long-term
irreversible harm from climate change is closing, and will slam shut
well before the end of this decade. The earlier we act, the greater
our chance of avoiding a climate catastrophe. While more must be
done to support adaptation to the already intensifying impacts of
climate change, for the Marshall Islands and other low-lying atoll
nations – climate change poses a very different set of risks. Our
territorial integrity is threatened and our very statehood is on the
line. Global emissions have continued to rise in the two decades
since Rio, and I appeal to all of you to demonstrate leadership and
take urgent action in whatever form or package works best. As I
said earlier, time has now run out.
Excellencies,
In sustainable development, as in climate change, SIDS are a special
case. Our unique vulnerabilities have worsened over the last two
decades due to increased exposure to external shocks, climate
change, natural disasters, and fuel, food, and financial crises. These
problems are made worse by the lack of incoming support, and the
failure to direct support towards actual projects on the ground.
Support needs to more directly address each country’s selfdetermined
priorities, particularly when it comes to the most
vulnerable island states.
Excellencies,
The world has no more time to spend pursuing unsustainable energy
policies, and we have run out of both time and patience for
countries, especially the largest emitters, to continue evading their
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responsibility.
We call on the world, for our very survival, to accelerate
transformation of the energy sector to fully renewable and low
carbon energy sources. Leading by example, the Marshall Islands,
with support from Japan and SIDS DOCK, is undertaking a
feasibility study for OTEC, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion,
which uses the deep ocean temperature differential to generate
electricity, fresh water, and hydrogen – the building blocks of
sustainable development in small island states. If successful, OTEC
will usher in a new era of integrated sustainbility and turn the
Marshall Islands from an oil-dependent country into a renewable
energy exporter.
Excellencies,
As world leaders today, we must seize this opportunity to embrace
sustainable development and social and environmental justice.
Twenty years after Rio – we know from our own experience that
true action to achieve sustainable development is not only possible,
but is already taking shape. But so much more remains to be done to
reverse our dangerous and unsustainable global direction. If the
low-lying Marshall Islands goes by the wayside, it will be the
irresponsible precursor to a threatened future for all.
Two decades ago, world leaders had hopes, aspirations and
concerns. Today, we only have time for action.
Kommool tata and I thank you all.
