Krishna says India committed to help Pacific Island countries on climate change

Cairns (Australia), Aug 7 (ANI): Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Friday said that India is committed to providing assistance to Pacific Island countries in the process of adaptation to climate change.

Speaking on climate change at the Post-Forum Dialogue of Pacific Island Forum, Krishna said: "India is of the view that a special effort needs to be undertaken by the international community to help Small Island Developing States (SIDS) deal with climate change and the process of adaptation."

He said that India has been actively participating in the climate change negotiations process right from the beginning.

"We have in recognizing the special vulnerabilities of the Least Developed Countries and the SIDS, supported at each stage the need to give special attention to SIDS in the convention," he added.

The Minister said that the SIDS are experiencing major adverse effects of climate change and adaptation to adverse impacts of climate change and sea-level rise remains a major priority for them.

"It was with a view to working towards this goal in collaboration with Pacific Island Countries that the Government of India sponsored an international workshop on 'Key vulnerabilities in Small Island Developing States, scope for technology cooperation with India' in Delhi in August 2005 under ITEC Programme in which 25 nominees from 22 small island developing countries participated," he said.

Again in March 2007, the Minister said the Government of India in collaboration with the Tata Energy Research Institute of India organized a workshop on Sustainable Development for officials of Pacific Island Countries in Suva, Fiji in which 28 nominees from the 14 Pacific Island countries participated.

"We are conducting another workshop in Suva very soon for nominees from the 14 Pacific Island countries," the Minister added. (ANI)