Frustrated Melanesian nations are concerned their voices are going unheard and blame global politics for intensifying disasters, conflict and food insecurity in the region.
At the conference “Security3: Food Security, Biosecurity and National Security in the Melanesian Arc” held in Canberra, Australia, on Feb. 22, representatives from the governments of Fiji and the Solomon Islands urged donor countries, including Australia, to take stronger action against climate change, warning that the writing's on the wall. The countries have long been among the most outspoken on the dangers of climate change.
“Sometimes I feel that it’s genocide,” Collin Beck, Solomon Islands high commissioner to Australia, told the audience. “We know what is going to happen.”
About the author
Lisa Cornishlisa_cornish
Lisa Cornish is a former Devex Senior Reporter based in Canberra, where she focuses on the Australian aid community. Lisa has worked with News Corp Australia as a data journalist and has been published throughout Australia in the Daily Telegraph in Melbourne, Herald Sun in Melbourne, Courier-Mail in Brisbane, and online through news.com.au. Lisa additionally consults with Australian government providing data analytics, reporting and visualization services.
