Page 30 - Islands Business October 2023 edition

Climate Change
CHINESE SCIENTISTS POINT TO

INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE

By Kite Pareti “Pacific Island countries are seen like a drop in the ocean,
but then China is tainted as anti-democratic, anti-human
A group of marine scientists from China have used a high- rights, and all of that. But as Japan decided to dump its
level forum in Fiji to highlight years of research undertakings nuclear waste in the Pacific, it took China to say no to it.
in the Pacific and to warn of the urgent need to take climate “A number of these western countries don’t want to commit
action, pointing to the value of indigenous knowledge as part to reducing their carbon footprint. And then you have so-
of the solution. called autocratic countries with authoritarian tendencies, like
“Many places around the world are facing high China and others, pledging a commitment to reducing their
temperatures, earthquakes, floods, and wildfires. Some other carbon footprint.”
places have extreme sea levels and heavy precipitation, In April last year, the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate
which has resulted in flooding events. And all of these have Action Cooperation Centre was officially established in
severely threatened global food, water quality, energy, and Shandong province in China, serving as the first multilateral
infrastructure,” said Professor Wang Jingyuan of Liaocheng platform in tackling climate change in the Pacific region.
University, during her presentation at the University of the Most of the scientists and researchers at the forum were
South Pacific (USP) in Suva in August. from Liaocheng University, while others travelled from the
Prof. Jingyuan and other marine scientists from China Chinese Academy of Sciences and other universities such as
presented their research into environmental corrosion, Ludong University and East China Normal University.
endangered species, recreational fishery and threats to They are all part of the China-Pacific Island Countries
mangrove species in the Pacific. The forum was jointly Climate Action Cooperation Centre.
organised by the Research Centre on Pacific Island Countries “We understand the special difficulties experienced by
of Liaocheng University and the South Pacific Islands Institute small island states in dealing with climate change,” said
of Asian Studies in collaboration with USP. Wang Shujian, Vice-Chairman of the Shandong Provincial
Referring to a study on cultivating salt-resistant swamp taro Committee.
in the Mortlock Islands in Micronesia, Prof. Jingyuan said the “Since the inauguration of the centre, bearing in mind
use of indigenous knowledge for climate change mitigation the needs of island states, Shandong province has carried
and adaptation could actually benefit the world. “There’s out events of exchanges and training, donated facilities in
a vast repository of indigenous knowledge that can help us response to climate change and held high-level forums and
adapt to climate change…and reduce vulnerability,” she said. thematic seminars to advance our cooperation exchanges in
“Addressing the forum, Jope Koroisavou, Secretary to climate action.”
the Minister for iTaukei Affairs, affirmed that “indigenous “The cooperation between China and the Pacific Island
knowledge is not merely a commodity, it is the cornerstone of Countries have largely deepened over the years,” Chinese
our survival.” Ambassador to Fiji, Zhou Jian, reiterated.
“Our ancestors, guided by stars and ocean currents, “China provides technical assistance to island countries
navigated across vast distances without modern instruments. without adding political strings, and has implemented more
They understood the balance between humanity and nature, than 108 projects, provided more than 200 batches of in-kind
between taking from the earth and giving back. A balance we assistance, dispatched more than 600 medical teams and
must re-establish today,” Koroisavou said. trained about 10,000 people from the Pacific Island countries
“Our traditional ecological knowledge is invaluable in in various fields,” he said.
protecting biodiversity, restoring our lands and waters and “At present, the Peoples’ Republic of China and the Chinese
combating the impact of a changing climate. By doing so, we universities are paying more and more attention to Pacific
secure our own resilience and contribute to the global effort studies,” said Fiji’s Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro.
against environmental degradation.” “It is the lack of educational opportunities, cultural
Prof. Jingyuan reminded delegates that “China has aimed to exchange programs, necessary resources and expertise to
keep its carbon dioxide emissions by at least 30% and strives implement sustainable development strategies that hinder
to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060,” - an ambition that has development in small-island states.
been under scrutiny by the global community. “With a more collaborative effort to expand our relations
“China has been working to create a low carbon industry to through the education sector, we can guide and strengthen
curb the development of high-energy consumption and high- cultural exchange programs that will attract more Chinese
emission projects,” Prof. Jingyuan said. scholars and investors, and reduce the cultural differences
Looking at climate change through a human rights lens, between all the parties.”
former Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Women in Fiji,
Ashwin Raj, expressed the need to “start treating countries as reporter@islandsbusiness.com
equal.

30 Islands Business, October 2023