Fiji is calling for global and collective responsibility towards addressing the threat posed by man-made climate change and the disastrous consequences that it holds for small Pacific Island nations.
This was highlighted today by the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Rosy Akbar while chairing the plenary session of Civil Society Organisations at the 3rd Pacific Islands Development Forum Leaders Meeting, in Suva.
Minister Akbar took the opportunity to highlight the policies and programs that reflects Government’s commitment to address climate change.
“The government respects and values the work of Civil Society Organisations in the area of Climate Change, especially at international negotiations. Fiji, along with other Pacific Island Small Developing States represented, is leading the charge within the UN Framework Convention on climate change negotiations.
“Domestically, Fiji has already enacted the Green Growth Framework of 2014, the National Climate Change Policy of 2012, and the National Climate Change Adaptation strategy of 2011, all in an attempt to lessen Fiji’s footprint on the global environment. In order to spur international policies, the Fijian Government will join other Small Island Developing States at the COP 21 this December ready to negotiate,” Minister Akbar elaborated.
Minister Akbar said panel discussions are a great platform to enhance collaborative approach to device strategies for climate change adaptation.
“The outcomes achieved by this panel will directly feed into the text of our call at the United Nations Climate Change Summit to be held in Paris. We also need to set adaptation goals to foster climate resilience and better balance mitigation. To do so, we need new, adequate and predictable financial resources for the implementation of relevant policies.
“At the upcoming Paris Agreement, Fiji will call for differentiated commitments reflecting the special circumstances of Least Developed Countries and Small Islands Developing States. Fiji will also call for the strengthening the Adaptation Committee to create a stronger institutional framework to address loss and damage compensation on behalf of these states through a separate funding mechanism.
“There must be at least $100 billion per year committed by 2020 if we are serious about achieving these goals. These funds must come with preferential access granted and additional funds specially earmarked for Small Islands Developing States.
“In order to track the progress of these ambitious objectives, we need to increase transparency through a 5 year review of any mechanism we produce. This will help avoid free riding and spread the costs fairly and equitably. To enforce compliance and ensure effective implementation, Fiji will call for a mechanism to review implementation and institute incremental increase of commitments,” Minister Akbar said.
The panel also raised the point that there is a need to reduce global carbon emissions. According to a report by the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change, the policies need to ensure that the global temperature does not increase more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.