UN General Assembly

Small Island Developing States priorities discussed at the UN General Assembly

Samoa prime minister and Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) chair Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa said a strong plan of action for survival is needed right now.

She said they need much greater mitigation ambition from the international community.

Fiamē also said the loss and damage fund, discussed at COP27, must be operationalised and fit for purpose for SIDS "as communities most vulnerable to climate change".

     

Nauru President touts Taiwan's global record at UN General Assembly

In his address at the 76th session of the UNGA, Aingimea said Nauru has made significant progress in its COVID-19 vaccination effort and its overall response to the pandemic, thanks to the ongoing support of its “genuine friends Australia, India, Japan and the Republic of China (Taiwan).”

He said Taiwan is an important global partner that is ready to share its experience in responding to the pandemic and should not be sidelined in international organisations like the World Health Assembly.

Nauru speaks up for Taiwan in U.N. debate

President Lionel Rouwen Aingimea expressed his appreciation to "genuine friends" for their valuable support in responding and containing pandemic.

He named these "genuine friends" as Australia, Taiwan, New Zealand, India, Japan and the United States.

Aingimea reminded the U.N. member states that the U.N. Charter was drafted based on the principles of universality and equality and that it was not enough to proclaim the virtues of multilateralism if they failed to strengthen their commitment to upholding the core principles of the Charter.

Nauru President warns of possible climate change ‘economic Armageddon’

The President said tuna fishing generates $6 billion annually for the handful of small island developing States known as the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), a 1982 accord on fisheries management.

“This fishery is projected to disperse and disappear from the waters of the nine-member countries and territories of the PNA in the not too distant future: another victim of the climate crisis,” he told fellow world leaders.

Kiribati and Nauru urge UN to recognise Taiwan

Kiribati President, Taneti Maamau, made the call while addressing the Assembly in New York.

He said the meeting's theme implied that the UN is one family, so Taiwan should be included in international processes and discussions.

"This theme will be irrelevant if the UN continues to ignore the 20 million people who live and contribute to our shared home and continue to exclude them from the process."

Nauru President, Baron Waqa, backed up sentiments and said making the United Nations relevant to all people, must include the people of Taiwan.

Nauru President highlights safe climate, healthy ocean at UN General Assembly

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly today, President Waqa called on “friends and development partners to step up their assistance programmes.”

“Nauru's climate priorities fall into four categories: renewable energy, land rehabilitation, water security, and infrastructure proofing, and we are looking to build genuine and durable partnerships to achieve our objectives.”

France ups climate finance pledge to €5bn in 2020

That was announced by President Francois Hollande at the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday, in a bid to leverage more action.

The host nation of this December’s critical Paris climate summit will also increase the amount available as grants, and not as loans, he said.

“We need developed countries to take on financial commitments… we have to make sure that emerging economies, developing countries can be sure they will be helped.”

Hollande noted that the developed world had yet to deliver on its promise to raise US$100 billion of climate finance in 2020.