Climatic doom neigh

Regional

for small islands

The effects of climate change could lead to disasters of national proportions for small islands in the South Pacific, Caribbean and Indian oceans.

The spokesperson for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Annette des lies, delivered the warning at the final preparatory talks on the framework of the

Treaty on Climate Change.

She said all small islands face the constant threat of low-lying coastal areas and wet lands, the reduction of available ground water due to salt water intrusion, and potential social disruption due to the pos sible need for relocation of coastal popu lations.

Small islands, she added, have been pursu ing negotiations on the climate change treaty for their survival, des lies made the comments as she intro duced the AOSIS draft protocol urging developed countries to reduce carbon dioxide emission into the atmosphere by at least 20 per cent below 1990 levels, by the year 2005.

The AOSIS proposal clashes with the posi tion of most industrialised countries which want a voluntary, non-mandatory approach to the treaty.

However, Germany, which also wants spe cific times and targets in the treaty, has allied itself with the AOSIS proposal at the meeting. Dr Michael von Websky of the Germany Environment Ministry said Germany welcomed the initiative of the AOSIS in proposing a draft protocol.

Pacific behind in

civic duties

Pacific islanders have a long way to go in terms of fulfilling their quota on the inter national civil service scene, according to United Nations statistics.

A statistical summary of how many Pacific islanders are employed on a professional basis at the United Nations reveals there are under 10 people, or 10 percent of the required quota, for seven countries listed in the summary.

Fiji has the highest number with five; Papua New Guinea and Samoa have two.

The other member countries , the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon islands and Vanuatu , have none of their nationalities employed by the United Nations as yet.

The desired range average for Pacific island countries is between two to 14.