Tuvalu's former PM 'stunned' by Morrison's dismissive behaviour at PIF

The former Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Enele Sopoaga while speaking at the conference of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) claimed that he was “stunned” by Scott Morrison's behaviour at the Pacific Islands Forum. According to Sopoaga, Morrison's behaviour at the forum was “dismissive” of the concerns of the Pacific regarding the climate crisis. He believes that the way Morrison communicated at the PIF was very insulting. 

Sopoaga said, “As the PIF chairman I was stunned by the un-Pacific tenor and manner of the Australian prime minister to water down the wording of the communique and to limit the concerns about climate change, much against the concerns and the tears that were shed by the Pacific Island leaders.”

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“I thought, perhaps too ambitiously, that hosting the 50th PIF in Tuvalu, my country, which is perhaps the most threatened atoll nation due to impacts of climate change, would secure genuine sympathy and loyal understanding on our Tuvalu plea calling for an urgent and complete response to climate change. Sadly, making money took precedence over saving lives in [small island developing states].”

The Pacific Island Forum is reportedly backed by 120 Australian international development NGO's who called the Pacific leaders for Australia to cease thermal coal exports by 2030, to increase Australia's domestic climate ambition in line with the Paris agreement and to refrain from using Kyoto carryover credits to meet its goal under Paris agreement. Australia has reportedly refused to back calls to commit to not opening new coal mines and to take action to limit global warming to under 1.5C. 

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The Pacific Island Forum

The Pacific Island Forum is an inter-governmental organization that aims to enhance cooperation between countries and territories of the Pacific Ocean. It was found in 1971 as the South Pacific Forum and changed its name in 1999 so as to be more inclusive of the Forum's Oceania-spanning membership of both north and south Island countries. The PIF is also a United Nations General Assembly observer whose vision is “for a region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion, and prosperity so that all Pacific people can lead-free, healthy, and productive lives.”

(With agency inputs)

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