The prime minister of Tuvalu says he is very pleased with the outcomes of climate change talks in Paris, saying those criticising the deal are misinformed.
Transcript
The prime minister of Tuvalu says he is very pleased with the outcomes of climate change talks in Paris, saying those criticising the deal are misinformed.
Enele Sopoaga says he and other negotiators worked hard to seal a legally binding agreement that sees the best possible outcome for everyone.
He says the text including a stand alone provision for loss and damage and the ambition of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees by the end of the century is very significant.
ENELE SOPOAGA: All of what I have aspired to come out of the agreement is there. We have the temperature limit we asked for - well below two degrees but with the ultimate target of 1.5 degrees Celsius. We are very grateful for that. It was not easy to achieve that. It was extremely difficult but we did it. And I think it is a classic, clear example of what the world can achieve if we put our minds together. Now the other issue is adaptation and funding and the unique vulnerabilities of a small island developing state like Tuvalu. I am so happy that the provisions and measures to further enhance the implementation of the convention on adaptation, they are well provided in the agreement. Mitigation is also the same. Loss and damage is an issue, as you know. I am so glad, for one, I am happy it is there in the agreement. At one stage it was facing the challenge of being pushed out, even totally eliminated from the text of the agreement. I am very satisfied that I personally managed to resurrect and make sure it is there, detached from the issue of adaptation - because they are dealing with totally different issues. And I am so happy. The language of course is not perfect, but in issues like that I don't think we can allow perfect to be the target instead of the common good to everybody. Yes I hear a lot of people grumbling, people coming from the academic side, people from NGOs, but I want to seek their understanding that we are dealing here, I am looking after a nation of one of the most vulnerable countries to save, protect their lives. The deal therefore cannot be criticised. I think it is totally misplaced for these people to start jumping up and down and saying this is a bad deal for the Pacific. I totally disagree with this and I think we need to make sure the people back home are not alarmed by this criticism of the agreement.
MARY BAINES: So you think what has been agreed to will be enough for Tuvalu going forward?
ES: Security and survival of Tuvalu. I think it is well provided there. Of course this is not a Bible that we wrote in Paris. It is setting down measures, mechanisms, commitments that we are going to work. We were paving the way into, a highway, to push the ambition of limiting temperature increase, ambition on adaptation, mitigation, ambition of how we can achieve our targets. But I think it has paved a way for us to move forward, and also for business to look into technology and come on board. I think this is why I am happy with the agreement. Let's work, let's do it - we need to work hard.
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