Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Press Release
CONFERENCE OF PERIPHERAL MARITIME REGIONS
CONFÉRENCE DES RÉGIONS PÉRIPHÉRIQUES MARITIMES
CPMR ISLANDS COMMISSION
COMMISSION DES ILES DE LA CRPM
8th October 2009
EU Island Regions Express Solidarity With Small Island States On The Issue Of Climate Change
The European islands’ regional authorities, which have recently met in Gothenburg in the framework of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions’ General Assembly, have voiced their support for the small island states’ initiative[1] calling for more radical measures against the causes of the climate change.
A few weeks ago, the “Alliance of Small Island States” (AOSIS) – a structure gathering 43 states within the United Nations – issued a strongly worded declaration condemning the lack of ambition in the ongoing international climate change negotiations.
Many of these states, which include atolls and low-lying islands in the Pacific, are under severe threat because of the prospect of a rise in sea level, and the growing frequency of extreme climatic events.
Calling for a motion of support, Councillor Angus Campbell, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (UK) pointed out that “though the Outer Hebrides were a long way away from the Pacific, they were not immune to such risks”, some part of this archipelago being notoriously exposed to flooding (as the tragic events of the 2005 storm, which killed five islanders, demonstrated).
This view was shared by all the island delegations who decided to vote their immediate support for the AOSIS’ initiative.
The CPMR Islands Commission Chair, Convener Alec MacDonald (UK) has indicated that he would write to the AOSIS Chairman, Ambassador Dessina Williams of Grenada, to ascertain how the AOSIS and the CPMR Islands Commission could cooperate to raise the island and climate change issue in their respective spheres of influence.
For further information, please contact Enrico MAYRHOFER
Gsm: + 32 486 56 19 67 - E-mail : enrico.mayrhofer@crpm.org
Web: www.crpm.org
1 article published in the first pages of the newspaper “ Le Monde” on 23 September 2009
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Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Tel: 01851 822622 (Work)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk
Ruairidh Maciver
Communications Assistant
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Tel: 01851 822615 (Work)
Tel: 07881 774601 (Mobile)
email: ruairidh.maciver@cne-siar.gov.uk
