Our world plummets towards climate catastrophe as Government leaders head to Egypt for another
summit. But this time we need more than pious words and good intentions, we demand decisive action
that will save us and our planet.
The time for action has come. Delegations must not engage in another round of snail-paced
negotiations, strong on rhetoric but short on action, but remember that they are there, on our behalf to
save our futures and to save our planet before it is too late.
The greenhouse gasses being pumped into the atmosphere, principally by the major industrialised
countries, have been fuelling a rapid rise in global temperatures. The consequences include extreme
weather events, increasingly powerful hurricanes, droughts and floods, sea level rise, water crises,
biodiversity loss, and much more. If temperatures continue rising, eventually a tipping point will be
reached, and our planet will not be able to support life as we know it.
Small islands with the delicate balance of their ecosystems are already experiencing the dramatic and
negative impacts of climate change. But they are only the first, the tragedy will not stop with them.
Their experience is just a foretaste of what lies ahead for the rest of the world.
It seems particularly unfair that the most vulnerable are the ones already paying a high price for
the historical abuse of the environment by industrialised countries.
We join with other vulnerable countries and vulnerable groups in all countries, the poor, the
marginalised and most especially the youth in demanding real action by leaders starting at the 2022
summit in Egypt.
The impact of Climate change on the economies of vulnerable small islands has been devastating.
COP27 needs therefore to establish a “Loss & Damage Finance Facility” to compensate them for their
additional costs, that are the consequence of decades of exploitation of the environment by
industrialised countries.
Even if their contribution to the climate problem is miniscule, small islands need to adapt to it and
transition their economies. But they lack the financial resources. Adequate financial assistance that
islands can access is needed.
The most critical requirement is for all countries to genuinely commit to and implement greater cutbacks
in their generation of greenhouse gases, so that temperature rise is kept below 1.5 C. There can be no
more excuses. The consequences of failure, yet again, would be too great.
Failure would be a collective betrayal by our leaders of the responsibility entrusted to them to
save our futures and our planet.
ACT NOW. ACT DECISIVELY.
SIGN OUR PETITION and help save island countries as they negotiate for their very survival!
