Oxfam is a leading international aid agency working with communities around the world for solutions to poverty and social injustice.
TUESDAY 4 AUGUST 2009
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Oxfam Executive Director Andrew Hewett
Statement on climate change
and trade negotiations at Pacific Islands Forum
Outside Cairns Convention Centre
Cnr Grafton & Hartley Streets
Wednesday 5 August
11.15am
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This week’s Pacific Islands Forum must address the dramatic effects of climate change within the
region.
As the wealthiest country in the region and the highest per capita polluter, Australia must prevent
further climate damage to the Pacific by urgently adopting higher targets – reducing emissions by
at least 40 per cent on 1990 levels by 2020 - and urging other developed countries to do the
same.
The Government’s commitment of $150 million to help Pacific Islanders adapt to climate change
needs to be at least doubled to meet the most urgent adaptation needs in the Pacific.
This must be in addition to Australia’s existing aid commitments so that crucial poverty alleviation
efforts are not compromised. Globally, Australia’s fair share of helping developing countries
reduce their emissions and adapt to climate change is $4.3 billion.
Meanwhile, trade negotiations between Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Pacific leaders must not
plunge Pacific people already hit by the economic crisis, food crisis and climate change further
into poverty. With overall growth in the Pacific expected to slow, and falls in tourism, remittances
and exports resulting from the global financial crisis likely to hit hard, any new trade arrangements
must prioritise development to truly benefit Pacific nations.
Trade can be critical in helping lift people out of poverty, but the proposed removal of trade
barriers in Pacific Island countries runs the risk of undermining development rather than
enhancing it.
For example, if Samoa and Kiribati were to reduce their tariffs to create a more favourable
environment for the importation of Australian products then they are likely to lose up to 14 per
cent of total government revenue. The loss of revenue would decrease government spending on
health, education and other essential services.
Please contact Laurelle Keough at Oxfam Australia on 0409 960 100
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Oxfam is a leading international aid agency working with communities around the world for solutions to poverty and social injustice.
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