Precision Politics from Palau
Two weeks ago, at a UN General Assembly special meeting on climate change, the small Pacific island state of Palau announced its intention to formally request the UN Security Council’s protection from climate change and rising sea-levels. Specifically, in the form of a Security Council Resolution calling for mandatory emissions reduction targets.
It’s an incredibly smart move. The UNSC’s mandate is to maintain international peace and security, both of which will be under intense pressure as climatic impacts become more pronounced. Most of Palau lies barely above sea level (its highest point is slightly over 200m) making climate change a direct threat to this small nations physical and cultural existence. Could there be a clearer purpose for the UNSC than to protect the smaller nations of this world from annihilation?
The Palauan UN Ambassador, Mr. Beck addressed the meeting: “It is the obligation of the Security Council to prevent an aggravation of the situation … Larger countries can build dikes, and move to higher ground. This is not feasible for the small island states who must simply stand by and watch their cultures vanish.” Fearing that the Resolution may get rejected the first time around, he went on to urge other countries, “whose very existence is threatened, to utilize Article 34 of the Charter, which empowers each Member State to bring to the attention of the Security Council any issue which might lead to international friction.” He finished: “I think we can all agree that international friction is a mild term to describe the terrible plight in which the island nations now find themselves.” See the full text here.
The reality is that it is probably already too late for the 20,000 citizens of Palau and the other Pacific islands--as their governments stand before the world’s most powerful countries pleading for help, the wheels of devastating climate change are already in motion. However, Palau’s UN mission is demonstrating a lesson in principles: how long can the world sit idly by as entire cultures vanish? Moreover, Palau is giving all small countries a course in precision politics: if you want to change the world; aim high.
With luck, Palau’s call to action will trigger other low lying countries to take up the cause. It seems that their only hope is for global citizens and other low lying countries like Bangladesh and the Netherlands to join their call for a resolution. They certainly have my support.