PRIME Minister James Marape has called on the big carbon emitters of the world to own up and apologise to small island states including PNG who are victims of climate change.
He made the call in his PNG Country Statement to the General Debate of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, September 24.
“I call to all – especially big carbon emitting nations who are now enjoying their nation’s economic transformations through industrialisation to pause and think and save our planet earth.
“We have a collective responsibility to take action to save the earth.
“It is the survival of the earth we must take action on now.
“I want to make this statement. Enough talk. We have to take action now to commensurate to the volume of emissions from our industries.
“Leaders of the big carbon emitting nations must lead the global effort to rebalancing the environmental equilibrium,” he said.
He urged all nations of the earth to unite and save planet earth.
“We must rise up and save planet earth,” Marape said.
PM Marape further advocated for developed countries to commit US$100 billion annually to developing countries to assist by sustaining their natural resources to lessen carbon emissions to the ozone layer.
He said PNG which is part of the Blue Pacific Ocean is home to marine and terrestrial biodiversity and is where the most vulnerable small island states are being exposed to global threats and rise in sea level and to climate change and the health and the associate economic woe brought about by the COVID – 19 pandemic.
“I speak for Papua New Guinea but the issues will no doubt resonate with the small island states.
“Our oceanic homes and way of life is intertwined with the ecosystem in its natural equilibrium. The equilibrium is now affected by human influence not of our making.
“As we speak children and families living near the seas are in fear and uncertain of what their future will be,” PM Marape told the UN Assembly.