2013 - Volume 16 Number 3
To our North and East of Australia lie the Pacific Islands, a vast region that is at the forefront of human induced climate change.
Within this collection of archipelagos and atolls lie Kiribati, Tuvalu, and the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI), whose people have seen the quality of their lives deteriorate from the impact of rising sea temperatures and tides. Human induced climate change is the cause, and is exacerbating existing human development issues that face the atolls.
That the world needs to reduce its emissions can no longer be in doubt if these island nations are to remain intact, both as a collection of land and as cultural groups, by the end of the century.
Australia, as the highest per capita greenhouse gas emitter in the world and their neighbour, can and must do more to lead the way in reducing emissions.
At our current rate, we are likely to see a rise in sea levels of 0.6 metres and 4 degrees in temperature by 2100. This is a fearful prospect for our low lying neighbours.