Madrid, Spain- Prime Minister Honourable Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama has strongly urged youths in the Pacific to raise their voices and build relationship with their counterparts in all countries to establish climate action coalitions of the future.
While delivering his keynote address at the High-Level Talanoa Session on the ambitious Nationally-Determined Contributions (NDCs) with Pacific youths at the 2019 UN Climate Change Conference-COP 25 in Madrid this afternoon, Prime Minister Bainimarama said it was crucial for youths to use their voices to challenge anyone, including those who might be older and seemingly more powerful, who dismisses calls for action or pretend that the future of the youths do not matter.
The High-Level Talanoa Session was a platform aimed at engaging our Pacific leaders and youths to a more robust and meaningful discussion on climate action, at the same time, deliberate on our journey to ensuring climate resilience and adaptation, among other important actions, are entrenched into our respective government strategies and NDCs.
“Use your voice to stake your claim. Demand the future you know is right and possible, above all, go forth boldly in this campaign with confidence and I will always be proud to stand alongside you,” Prime Minister Bainimarama said.
“You, the young Pacific climate warriors here today are among our most valuable champions for the cause of climate action. My voice carries weight in these forums because I lead a nation as Prime Minister but you are leaders in your own right as well. In fact, you can speak to the need for urgent and ambitious action more powerfully than I ever could.
“There is no force mightier than your courageous advocacy and justifiable angst in demanding action from the leaders of the world. Nothing gives me greater hope for the future than the new and surging levels of ownership your generation is taking over these issues.
“I’m not only proud to stand with each of you in this campaign but also to lead a nation that is backing your demands for action with climate-conscious development, slashing our emissions while building an inclusive and resilient economy.”
Prime Minister Bainimarama added that Fiji is committed to reaching the Paris Agreement’s 1.5-degrees target by achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
“Next year, we will submit our enhanced NDCs to the UNFCCC. We are one of a handful of countries with both a Climate Vulnerability Assessment and a National Adaptation Plan," he said.
“Our progress isn’t only about meeting global commitments. It is, quite simply, about making it better to be a Fijian.”
Fijian climate youth advocate, Komal Kumar also took centre stage and highlighted the need for youths to be involved in the implementation of the NDCs.
“We see ourselves as liaisons between governments and communities at grass roots level. The establishment of the Regional Pacific NDC Hub should also be a centre that provides the guidance and support tools for young people to get creative and innovative with the implementation of the NDCs,” she said.
“There is also a need to identify and define youth action agenda for different stakeholders to build a strong and unified voice, moving forward the national climate discourse process.
“Youths offer transformative and just solutions towards building a more climate-resilient society or economy.
“Implementing the NDCs is all about getting climate action to the top of everyone’s priority list. We all are equal stakeholders when it comes to climate change.”
Wilimi Sek, a climate youth advocate from Vanuatu who was among other Pacific youth panelists at the Talanoa Session, said effective consultation was key in ensuring that no one is left behind in terms of understanding the climate action language.
“We need to cultivate the culture of learning. When we all fully understand the real and harmful impacts of climate change, we will be serious about our fight against this climate issue,” he said.
Another youth panelist, Belinda Hikinemi from the Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change shared similar sentiments, saying it was important for Pacific leaders to support youth initiatives in their respective island nations.
“Our views and opinions should also be considered and incorporated into any climate policy or strategy in our countries so that we know we are also represented in all climate talks of the Pacific,” she added.