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I stand before you today to address three pressing environmental issues that plague the South Pacific region. Through this speech, I hope to convince you of the urgency of addressing these issues and the difficulties faced by the people living in these fragile lands. We must join hands and act together to protect this remarkable region and ensure a sustainable future for its inhabitants.

The primary and most apparent concerns in this region revolve around climate change and sea level rise:

In the South Pacific, the effects of climate change are particularly evident, especially the continuous rising sea level. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), sea levels have risen by about 3.7 millimeters per year in recent decades, which may sound like a very small amount, but over time, the gradual rise in sea levels poses an existential threat to low-lying island nations.

Imagine the heartbreaking reality for the people there when their homes are engulfed by the encroaching waters. Sea-level rise threatens not only the land on which they have depended for generations, but also their precious cultural heritage, traditions, and way of life.

Secondly, there is the loss of biodiversity and the serious degradation of marine ecosystems:

The South Pacific is a treasure trove of biodiversity, with beautiful Great Barrier Reefs, lush rainforests, and unique ecosystems created by tens of millions of years of separation from the continent. But unfortunately, biodiversity is rapidly declining. Statistics from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) show that more than 80 per cent of the region's forests have disappeared in the past, and many marine species are on the verge of extinction due to overfishing and habitat destruction.

Behind these figures lie the stories of fishermen who once thrived on the abundance of marine life and are now struggling to make ends meet. Their lives have become more difficult today due to the decline in fish stocks caused by various reasons. The delicate balance of the ecosystem has collapsed with the loss of every species and depletion of fish stocks, which further affects the already poor people here and puts the future of the entire region in jeopardy.

There is also the issue of access to clean water and the construction of sanitation facilities:

Despite the pristine blue waters that surround the islands, access to clean water remains a challenge for many communities. Even in this environment, people here suffer from severe water shortages, as the salty water in the ocean is not available to them! Shockingly, the UN reports that 1 in 4 people in the South Pacific do not have access to clean water and proper sanitation. What a staggering figure that is!

Think of the children who are missing out on education by spending hours each day travelling long distances to fetch water for their families. Contaminated water breeds horrible diseases, perpetuates poverty, and traps these communities in a vicious cycle of hardship.

Friends, now is the time to act, and the solutions are all around us.

Each of us can contribute to protecting the South Pacific and supporting its people:

    1, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Adopt sustainable practices that minimise waste and reduce our impact on the environment.

    2,Support Sustainable Tourism: Choose to travel responsibly, respect local cultures and protect natural habitats. This way we can help local economies without damaging them.

    3, Advocate for change: We can raise awareness of these issues in our communities, actively publicise the problems people here are experiencing and encourage collective action.

    4, Do what we can to find ways to help local people: Bill Gates has set up a foundation to help people around the world with the issue of access to clean water. While we may not have that kind of power, we can do our small part to donate and help them out.

And countries and governments can act on the problems that exist here:

Governments and countries must take proactive measures to protect the South Pacific:

    1, First and foremost is the Climate Action Plan: the government must             implement an ambitious climate action plan that sets targets for emissions reductions and a transition to renewable energy. This will not only save energy, but also benefit the people of the South Pacific and our future.

    2, Biodiversity Conservation: Help local governments establish and expand protected areas, protect natural habitats for animals that governments are not in a position to establish, and protect precarious ecosystems. Promote sustainable fishing practices, and contribute to the sustainable development of the local economy.

    3, Infrastructure development: Invest heavily in water and sanitation infrastructure to help local governments and ensure that all communities have access to clean water.

The challenges facing the South Pacific require our immediate attention and action. Let's be aware of the problems encountered by the people living in this precious but often neglected land. Together, we can make a difference and create a sustainable and prosperous future for the South Pacific and all its inhabitants.

Thank you for your interest and let's unite to protect the beauty and resilience of the South Pacific.

中文参考：

今天，我站在你们面前，阐述困扰南太平洋地区的三个紧迫的环境问题。我希望通过这次演讲，让你们相信解决这些问题的紧迫性，以及生活在这些脆弱土地上的人们所面临的困难。我们必须携起手来，共同行动，保护这个了不起的地区，确保其居民拥有一个可持续发展的未来。

该地区最主要和最明显的问题是气候变化和海平面上升：

在南太平洋，气候变化的影响尤为明显，特别是海平面的持续上升。根据政府间气候变化专门委员会（IPCC）的数据，近几十年来，海平面每年上升约 3.7 毫米，这听起来似乎是一个很小的数字，但随着时间的推移，海平面的逐渐上升对低洼岛国的生存构成了威胁。

试想一下，当那里的人们的家园被侵蚀的海水吞没时，他们将面临怎样令人心碎的现实。海平面上升不仅威胁到他们世世代代赖以生存的土地，还威胁到他们珍贵的文化遗产、传统和生活方式。

其次是生物多样性的丧失和海洋生态系统的严重退化：

南太平洋是生物多样性的宝库，这里有美丽的大堡礁、郁郁葱葱的热带雨林，还有数千万年来与大陆分离而形成的独特生态系统。但不幸的是，生物多样性正在迅速减少。世界自然基金会（WWF）的统计数据显示，该地区 80% 以上的森林在过去已经消失，许多海洋物种由于过度捕捞和栖息地遭到破坏而濒临灭绝。

在这些数字的背后，隐藏着渔民的故事，他们曾因丰富的海洋生物而繁衍生息，如今却在为生计而挣扎。由于各种原因导致鱼类资源减少，如今他们的生活变得更加艰难。随着各种物种的减少和鱼类资源的枯竭，生态系统的微妙平衡已经崩溃，这进一步影响了这里本已贫困的人们，并危及整个地区的未来。

此外，还有清洁水的获取和卫生设施的建设问题：

尽管群岛周围是湛蓝的原始水域，但对于许多社区来说，获得清洁水仍然是一个挑战。即使在这样的环境中，这里的人们也遭受着严重的缺水问题，因为他们无法获得海洋中的咸水！令人震惊的是，联合国报告称，南太平洋每 4 人中就有 1 人无法获得清洁水和适当的卫生设施。这是一个多么惊人的数字！

想想那些每天要花费数小时长途跋涉为家人打水的孩子们，他们错过了受教育的机会。受污染的水会滋生可怕的疾病，使贫困永久化，并使这些社区陷入困境的恶性循环。

朋友们，现在是采取行动的时候了，解决方案就在我们身边。

我们每个人都可以为保护南太平洋和支持南太平洋人民做出贡献：

- 减少、再利用、再循环： 采取可持续的做法，最大限度地减少废物，降低对环境的影响。

- 支持可持续旅游业： 选择负责任的旅游方式，尊重当地文化，保护自然栖息地。这样，我们既能帮助当地经济，又不会对其造成破坏。

- 倡导变革： 我们可以提高社区对这些问题的认识，积极宣传当地人遇到的问题，并鼓励采取集体行动。

- 尽我们所能，想方设法帮助当地人民： 比尔-盖茨成立了一个基金会，帮助世界各地的人们解决获得清洁水的问题。虽然我们可能没有这样的能力，但我们可以尽自己的微薄之力捐款，帮助他们。

国家和政府也可以采取行动解决目前存在的问题：

各国政府必须采取积极措施保护南太平洋：

- 首先是气候行动计划：政府必须实施一项雄心勃勃的气候行动计划，设定减排目标并向可再生能源过渡。这不仅能节约能源，还能造福南太平洋人民和我们的未来。

- 生物多样性保护： 帮助地方政府建立和扩大保护区，保护政府无力建立的动物自然栖息地，保护岌岌可危的生态系统。推广可持续的捕鱼方式，促进当地经济的可持续发展。

- 发展基础设施： 大力投资水和卫生基础设施，帮助地方政府，确保所有社区都能用上干净的水。

南太平洋面临的挑战需要我们立即关注并采取行动。让我们了解生活在这片珍贵但往往被忽视的土地上的人们所遇到的问题。团结起来，我们就能有所作为，为南太平洋及其所有居民创造一个可持续发展和繁荣昌盛的未来。

感谢您的关注，让我们团结起来，保护南太平洋的美丽和韧性。