Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has officially taken over the Presidency of the 23rd meeting of the Conference of Parties in Bonn, Germany.
Appointed by the Asia Pacific region, Bainimarama will preside over the international climate meeting over the next two weeks.
The COP23 President clear on what the agenda will be.
“To make the Paris Agreement work and to advance ambition and support for climate action by 2020, to meet our commitments in full, not back away from them and to commit ourselves to the most ambitious target of the Paris Agreement to cap the global average temperature at one point five Degree Celsius over that of the pre-industrial age.”
Bainimarama told delegates that it was imperative that ambitious climate action be urgently taken.
“I also appeal for a lot more resolve to assist the more vulnerable to adapt to climate change and as President of COP23, we are launching an Ocean Pathway to ensure the Ocean is an integral part of our UNFCCC process by 2020. Excellency’s, Distinguished delegates, this is our moment of truth.”
Bainimarama told delegates from close to 200 countries that the time to act was now and that COP23 needed to make a real difference turning the tide on climate change.
