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Fiji will not step back - PM

May 8, 2019 4:45 pm

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama opened the 6th Australian Emission Reduction Summit in Melbourne

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama opened the 6th Australian Emission Reduction Summit in Melbourne, Australia this morning.

Bainimarama says despite Fiji no longer presiding over climate negotiations, she will not take a step back.

He says Fiji has two priorities which include building greater resilience to growing climate impacts and to urgently modernise and decarbonise our economies and societies.

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He called on the leaders for support and solidarity in achieving this.

“This is the time for all Pacific nations to draw closer together, to eliminate or minimize differences, and to move as one into a future that is more secure and more prosperous. Sadly, there will be no security, no prosperity, if we do not confront the climate crisis with the same force that we would use against any foe. And we cannot do that without our Australian neighbour. Our security is bound together.”

The summit attended by 600 participants is the largest climate change and business event in Australia and takes its place of increasing interest and influence on the regional Asia Pacific stage.