Pacific Island nations cannot move to a new economic development paradigm alone because the structure of the global economy as a whole must change and move to an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable basis.
This is a message the Roundtable for Nature Conservation of the Pacific Islands want leaders to take to the Rio+20 Earth Summit in 2012.
“The economy needs to move towards a greener approach,” the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation (PIRNC) chairman Taholo Kami said.
“But this shift needs to be a transformational one if changes to the current development model are to be realised”.
As the 14th annual meeting came to an end on Friday, July 29 members of the PIRNC welcomed the focus of moving the world to a more ecologically sustainable economic development model.
The PIRNC also feels the preparatory process that has begun for Pacific Island nations for the Rio Earth Summit in 2012 should reflect that our way of ‘doing business’ failed since the first Rio Earth Summit in 1992.
“There is now a growing race for the remaining resources in the Pacific Islands,” the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program’s, Stuart Chape said.
“Our minerals, our seas and lands are being seen as a source of metal, marine products, wood and commodities to feed the demands from the developed and developing world.”
It is clear the economic approach, which depends on the extraction and degradation of limited natural resources, cannot provide a sustainable future for the Pacific.
“When is enough, enough?” the Pacific Council of Churches secretary general Fei Tevi said.
“The economy is all about growth, but we need to put a cap on the way we are doing things, otherwise climate change will do it for us.”
Despite the critical environment situation facing Pacific Island nations, there are signs of hope in which the Pacific can offer lessons and models to the world.
For instance, marine and terrestrial conservation initiatives are being led at the highest political levels by the governments of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands, Fiji and Cook Islands.
Also, the Pacific Island countries that are parties to the Nauru Agreement are applying innovative conservation measures to provide for the sustainable management of commercial tuna stocks.
“There is much that needs to be praised and strengthened,” Mr Kami said.
“The PIRNC calls for stronger commitments from Pacific Rim partners to assist Pacific countries with the capacity to manage and secure their natural resources.”
Resolutions from the PIRNC meeting will be carried forward by the Secretariat of the Pacific Environment Program and integrated to the submissions from Pacific Island countries for Rio+20.
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