National mobilization –
Governmental policies in Micronesia
Micronesia might be the most threatened region on earth when it comes to Climate Change. Here, it is not only a way of life that is at stake, but the very existence of a country. Indeed, the current predictions for sea-level rise would result in a significant number of Islands being completely erased from the map.
In opposition to Western governments, Climate Change is to us not a low-priority issue but is at the very core of our policies. Masao Nakayama, our Micronesian Ambassador to the United Nations, in its speech to the UN - that you can find as an audio file below - expressed our concern:
"We don’t want to go anywhere. We want to stay on our Islands; this is what we want
the international community to understand. I feel they have written us off because
the kind of targets they put on the table is not going to save the islands”.
So what has been our government’s strategy so far?
We are going to discuss successively Micronesia’s international role and mission regarding Climate Change, then the national
policies that have been or will be implemented, as well as the organizations through which it has been achieved.
The Association of Small Island States
This international organization was founded in 1990 and has 42 members. Its main objective is to give the Small Island Developing States a louder voice in international negotiation on Climate Change. Together they urge the international scene to take efficient actions to fight climate change and to agree on a new protocol to replace the Kyoto Prtotocol.
policies that have been or will be implemented, as well as the organizations through which it has been achieved.
Micronesia as an international Climate Change actor –
Between credibility and powerlessness
Micronesia is one of the least GHG emitting countries in the world. Thanks to its wide forests and coral reefs, it is even “uptaking” other’s emissions. Even with these national achievements, we are ready to compromise in the framework of numerous international organizations on Climate Change. Micronesia thus benefits of an international credibility when it comes to Climate Change: our concern and commitment contribute to preserve a certain consideration towards Micronesia.
Yet credibility doesn’t mean power. One could think that its responsible approach gives Micronesia the necessary international weight to pressure other countries in order to agree on effective Climate Change measures. Sadly, Micronesia remains one “small country” among the others, and the fact that our future is at stake hardly gives us more international power. This lack of individual power is reinforced by the Micronesian dependance on foreign financial support for the funding of its activities and the implementations of its measures.
Let's have a closer look to some of the international agreements Micronesia is part of.
Let's have a closer look to some of the international agreements Micronesia is part of.
The Association of Small Island States
This international organization was founded in 1990 and has 42 members. Its main objective is to give the Small Island Developing States a louder voice in international negotiation on Climate Change. Together they urge the international scene to take efficient actions to fight climate change and to agree on a new protocol to replace the Kyoto Prtotocol. The Protocol of Montreal
Created in 1987, this international agreement contains the first binding clauses for reducing the emission of ozone depleting substances.
In 2007, new countries decided to commit themselves to follow these binding clauses : China, Indonesia, India, the United States, Argentina, …. This agreement could constitute a real help for Micronesia in the future possible legal appeal, particularly involving the Czech Republic.
The South Pacific Regional Environmental Program
This Program was published in April 1994 (). It is a response to a request from the Government of the Federal States of Micronesia “to develop a proposal for a programme of assistance to under-take an in-depth study of the potential impact of expected climate changes on the FSM”.
Finally, this report mainly recommends:
- the implementation of programs of the Nationwide Environmental Management Strategy,
- an “increase awareness and understanding of climate change and sea level rise issues”,
- a training program for national and state climate officers,
- an enhanced national and regional weather monitoring
- an enhanced capacity to respond to natural disasters
The implementation of this program was quite a success in the Federal States of Micronesia, but it was not enough to mitigate the effects of a global warming and a constant sea-level rise.
The Compact of Free Association with the United States
This agreement of 1986 constitutes in fact the Act of Independence of the Federal States of Micronesia vis-à-vis the United States. Though, we can observe this “Compact” could be translated by a still strong dependence on the US. That’s why it can be regarded as an international agreement. Today, without the US aids, Micronesia would not have such a prosperity level.
Close Cooperation with the US Environmental Protection Agency
The United States do not only help Micronesia financially but also in the domain of environment, which is one of the most important issue in the country. This US institution “provides assistance with policy science, planning, coordination, and sustainable finance at many levels”.
By this attitude, it is confirmed that the US are a real important partner of the Federal States of Micronesia.
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The intern measures for adaptation and mitigation
The Micronesia Government tries for at least one decade to gain a reform of the IPCC towards more consultation and regular meetings. With the Durban Conference in November 2011, it may be a success. But by now, the exclusion of non-governmental and non-national stakeholders does not create enough pressure to get this reform. Only more political will would be needed to go further in, first of all, the integration of these non-national stakeholders, then, the international implementation of mitigation measures against climate change.
Inside the Federation, an aggressive national environment management program is a start for measures not only for the stake of the environmental issues but naturally for the sake of the economic and social framework of Micronesia. The Coral Reef Protection Program and other Effect-orientated Protection Programs (modeled upon Pohnpei’s Watershed Protection Program) constitute the first adaptation measures against Climate Change. Combined with mitigation measures, these ones increase the uptake capacity, in order to protect coral reefs, or forest. They must have short and long-term effects at the same time.
Finally, the Sustainable Development Council (SDC), since mid-1990s ensures the consistency in the Government policy and positions for coordinating the different actors. However, competition and inefficiency exist in the cooperation between Federation and States.
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