Islands First co-organizes NYU Reception to Discuss Security Implications of Climate Change
17 November 2008
On Monday, 17 November 2008, Islands First and NYU’s Asian/Pacific/American Institute co-hosted an event to celebrate and support the work of the small island developing states in their battle to bring international attention to the neglected security implications of climate change. The gathering was attended by diplomats, scholars, members of the media, activists and other supporters.
National Geographic Fellow and first Polynesian Explorer at the National Geographic Society, Elizabeth Kapu’uwailani Lindsey, Ph.D, gave a keynote presentation, providing a first-hand account of the impacts of climate change, based on her intimate knowledge of the plight of Pacific Islanders. She called on the United Nations to end the neglect of those whose lives are already being negatively impacted by climate change.
H.E. Mr. Robert Guba Aisi (Papua New Guinea) and H.E. Mr. Stuart Beck (Palau) also spoke on the unique security threats that climate change poses for small island states and the measures that need to be taken in order to address them.