Marshall Islands sets an example with emissions cuts

5 February 2010 [MEDIAGLOBAL]: The Marshall Islands is a small developing country consisting of a network of islands in the Pacific Ocean. At only two meters above sea level, the effects of climate change could potentially annihilate it. While many countries missed the January 31 deadline to show support for the Copenhagen accord by submitting a plan to fight climate change, the Marshall Islands met this deadline with the announcement of a lofty goal-to cut its 2009 emissions levels by 40 percent by 2020. Thus far, only three other countries of the 55 that are associated with the accord – Norway, Brazil and China – have set unconditional goals in this range. Phillip Muller, the Marshall Islands Ambassador to the UN told MediaGlobal that using more alternative sources of energy is the main way they plan on reducing emissions. He also said that using alternative energy would also help the economy and promote development in the outer laying islands because fossil fuels are “very expensive and costly to bring to [the] country.”

As a small island developing state, the Marshall Islands hopes that their example will inspire others to take drastic action as well. John Silk, Foreign Minister of the Marshall Islands said, “If one of the smallest and most vulnerable island states can take action, the largest countries have no excuse not to follow our example.” David Turnbull, Director of the Climate Action Network agreed, telling MediaGlobal, “ If those countries who are the least responsible yet most vulnerable to the effects of climate change are willing to step up to the plate despite their ongoing development needs, those countries who do bear the brunt of historic and ongoing responsibility as well as capability have no excuse than to act themselves.”

At present, the United States has pledged to cut emissions by 17 percent, India by 25 percent, the European Union by 20 percent, and China by 40 percent. However, these are all based on emission levels from 2005. The Marshall Islands also called on wealthy nations for immediate and long term financial support to help smaller, developing nations adapt to climate change, and for a legally-binding agreement on measures against climate change. Nicola Winter