PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has met US President Barack Obama to thank him for his support in the fight against climate change.
Advertisement
Ahead of his visit to the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, Obama told a gathering of Pacific island nation leaders that conservation has been a key part of his presidency.
A portion of Midway Atoll in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument is seen from Air Force One, with President Barack Obama aboard, as it comes in for a landing at Henderson Field, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016.
On Thursday Barack Obama made a trip to Midway Atoll, an unincorporated territory of the United States and the site of the second world war’s Battle of Midway against the Japanese navy.
World’s largest marine protected area will be created on Friday when President Obama will expand the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument off the coast of Hawaii.
“People and communities in the Pacific are in grave danger and countless lives threatened by extreme weather brought about by climate change and our leaders are demanding action”, says the Prime Minister. Since then, however, the president has designated many more, including a nearly 90,000-acre national monument in Maine’s Katahdin woods, which was unveiled last week, three new national monuments in the desert of Southern California: so huge that they almost doubled the total amount of land he had conserved at the time, in mid-February 2016.
As for advice to his political successor, Obama had this to say: “I think you stay with it”.
The region is home to more than 7,000 species, including green turtles, endangered Hawaiian monk seals, various seabirds and a newly discovered octopus scientists nicknamed Casper. He sealed an historic climate accord with Beijing in 2014, and officials said they hope to further cooperation during his bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday.
“There are countries that now are at risk, and they have to move as a outcome of climate change”, Obama said. Supporters argued the larger monument was needed to protect a place considered sacred by Native Hawaiians by making it off-limits to commercial fishing and recreational activities.
Two-dozen bird species, including the black-footed albatross and red-footed booby, occupy the island, as well as dozens of coral reef-dwelling fish in the surrounding water. For which, the departments will signs an agreement with Hawaii’s Department of Natural Resources and Office of Hawaiian Affairs. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.
Share with Us – We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article, and smart, constructive criticism.
Advertisement
Be proactive – Use the “Flag as Inappropriate” link at the upper right corner of each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
