News

Collective Pacific action vital says PM

July 4, 2017 6:13 pm

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama closed the high level Climate Action Pacific Partnership meeting yesterday reiterating the need for agreed collective action.

Among the discussions over the two day meeting, the PM called on delegates to earnestly deliberate on transformative options that would be practical, affordable and can be replicated across the Pacific.

Bainimarama told Pacific Leaders that Fiji’s Presidency of COP23 was not for Fiji alone but representative of the Pacific.

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We will bring a particular perspective to these discussions based on personal experience and the experience of our peoples he said.

While a difference of opinion was welcome, the PM highlighted that it would be more effective to speak with one voice, the voice of the Pacific, the voice of some of the most vulnerable, demanding action and demanding to be heard.

And while the outcomes of this meeting are still to be finalised, Bainimarama went over the pending meeting schedule with delegates expected in New York in September for Climate Action week at the UN General Assembly which will be followed by the Pre-COP in Nadi, the last round to refine the Pacific’s collective position heading to Bonn.

The PM stressed that it was pivotal come November, the prime task would be to advance the implementation guidelines for the Paris Agreement, the Rulebook and lay the groundwork for more decision climate action in the Facilitative Dialogue of 2018.

Bainimarama ending with a call to Pacific leaders to use their mana as leaders individually and collectively as well as the mana of former Pacific leaders who have been at the forefront of the climate struggle over the years.

A leader’s statement on CAPP 2017 is expected to be released later today.