President Surangel Whipps Jr says Palau’s government puts God at the centre of climate policy because Palauans believe they own none of it – “everything on this planet belongs to God”. Source: The Catholic Leader.
Palau is a tiny Pacific island nation of about 18,000 people across 340 coral and volcanic islands in Micronesia.
It boasts barrier reefs, lagoons, world-class diving, rich marine biodiversity, ancient culture and strong environmental protections to maintain it all.
“(God) has entrusted us with the responsibility to be good stewards,” Mr Whipps said in an interview with Enrique Ramirez, a senior policy performance and improvement officer at Brisbane Catholic Education.
“When it comes to climate, caring for our common home is simply part of that responsibility.”
Pacific island nations like Palau are sounding alarm bells about the trajectory of climate change.
“We know that the Pacific is the most vulnerable region to climate change-related weather events,” Mr Whipps said. “There are three countries where all islands sit only two metres above sea level, meaning they risk disappearing.
Palau protects much of its unspoiled tropical magic wonder through strict conservation.
“In Palau, we also have islands that will disappear if we remain on our current trajectory.”
Mr Whipps champions the “30 per cent conservation” initiative, backs a moratorium on deep-sea mining and promotes a fossil-fuel-free Pacific.
“It cannot be only the Pacific Islands fighting climate change; it requires the whole planet,” he said. “It is essential for our children to understand this, and for everyone to take responsibility.”
Australia, he said, was the biggest Pacific island and the other nations looked to it as a “big brother”.
“As an oldest child myself, I know that our biggest responsibility is that we take care of all our siblings,” Mr Whipps said.
One unique solution to raising awareness has been the Palau pledge for tourists; tourism is a major part of the Palauan economy.
“When you come as a visitor, you make a commitment to our children to be a good steward,” Mr Whipps said.
“The pledge helps people understand how to minimise their impact, whether by making responsible choices, encouraging businesses to be more environmentally friendly and use renewable energy, or properly managing and recycling waste.
“All of these actions help us reduce our carbon footprint.”
The island nation was also forging ahead with plans to launch electric buses this year and incorporate other technologies like solar panels, battery storage and hydrogen-powered boat engines.
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Palau president places God at the centre of decisions in climate fight to keep islands afloat (The Catholic Leader)
