Name: Rikana Toroma
Age: 18
Country: Cook Islands
Native Language: Cook Islands Maori
I come from the beautiful islands of Aitutaki – it is well known for its lagoon and little atolls, beaches and sandy shores. I still live there with my parents and two little sisters and am attending school.
My experience of climate change is that before, the sea water from the beaches used to be far away, our beach was wide; but now it is very narrow because of sea level rise. Part of my family has migrated to Australia because of this. Sometimes my family’s food does not grow so well due to salt water coming up. Science has proven that if nothing is done, in 20 to 50 years our islands will be under water. We then have to move our houses, migrate – but we don’t want to do that because there’s no other place in the world we can call home.
In my view, the most important issues regarding climate change in my country are sea level rise, threats of forced migration, and mixture of salt water in fresh water. On my island, 60% of homes now bathe with water that is half sea water and half fresh water – I think this is really bad.
The thing that I would most like to tell leaders at COP15 is please do something, act, the time to do so is now. Actions speak louder than words.
Taking strong action on climate change matters to me because we are future leaders – taking strong action now is securing my future, those political people’s grandchildren, your grandchildren.
During my time at COP15 I hope to let leaders of the world know that we Pacific Islanders do exist and that climate change has a huge impact on our countries. I want to let them know about it so they can make a difference.
Beyond COP15, I would like to see a difference. 1.5 degrees. I want to see a difference and I want to help make that difference.
My vision for the future is – I want the world to be like my home – paradise, a slice of heaven.
