There is a group of member nations in the United Nations that are very much concerned about the rise of sea water due to climate change. They are referred to as the Small Island States (SIS). Some of them are; Mauritius, Maldives, Guam, Fiji, Tuvalu, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Bahamas, Haiti and many more. Scientific findings in the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel For Climate Change (FAR IPCC) categorically stated that if the world will increase its temperature by two degrees centigrade, sea water level is expected to rise about one meter without accounting for the melted ice in the arctic regions. Even by that water rise alone, many of these small islands will be partly or totally underwater. Migration for the people in these islands will therefore be an option and consequently a problem. That is why, presently they are lobbying and negotiating very hard to convince the leading industrialized nations (G8- USA, Japan, Russia, Italy, Germany, France, United Kingdom, and Canada), those capable of financing at the same time the main contributors of carbon emissions in the atmosphere which was proven to have caused global warming, to finalized talks on the adaptation fund which will be the source of funds to create adaptation projects for these nations. What these and other nations fear is the delay in the finalization of the talks on these. The urgency of the matter can not be taken for granted. There is a great need for urgency to approve the plan, provide the funds, and begin implementation. Further dilly dallying on the matter may be too late. Once water had reclaimed the vulnerable island, either it will need great amount of funds or that there is nothing more that can be done.
It is really interesting that in spite of this reality, there are countries who can still afford to delay or concentrate on some minor things. In the Climate Conference I attended in Bali, Indonesia, too much details and vested political and economic interests dominated the negotiations. Always, the political and economic agenda were the basis of decisions. Maybe they feel they will not be directly affected and therefore are very safe against this crisis or they are very confident they have the capacity to adapt to it. This maybe true, initially, but in the long run(actually it is already short!), the situation will soon catch up with them. Many scientists agree that climate change will have an effect on water level. As to its magnitude and how it will affect the islands, they could not absolutely determine the extent. It may be manageable (hopefully), but they could not say with certainty that it would not be greatly devastating. With the environment, nobody really knows!
As many had advocated, preparation and prevention is still the best option. We can not take for granted what will be. To expect the worst would be the best attitude. To prepare to the most would be the best defense. Anything less is just risking without basis.
Let us pray that all of us, especially those who have the power and resources would begin to see the whole picture. Nobody can do this alone. Everybody should be part of the solution. There is no Plan B, only Plan A. Act now and regret not later.
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