Prime Minister Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama says Fiji alongside its small island neighboring countries take climate change very seriously.
Presenting Fiji’s contribution to the Leaders of the Alliance of Small Island States Summit which endorsed the AOSIS Climate Change Declaration, Commodore Bainimarama said small island states were all aware of the devastating impact of climate change.
“ It accordingly would be amiss of me to reiterate the facts and figures pertaining to rising sea levels, rise in global surface temperatures and increase in green house emissions,” he said.
“ Of course we in the Pacific and those countries which have populations along coastal areas are even more so aware of these changes. We are at the cold face of rising sea levels caused by climate change.
Commodore Bainimarama Fiji will continue to work with the Alliance and all other countries to reinforce our position under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
“ We are and shall not be passive observers. Indeed, we simply cannot afford to be,” he said.
“ Copenhagen must not be another compromise. Copenhagen must put the action into the talk. It must show maturity and understanding. After all the short term gains will only be washed away if there is no foresight. It is better to action now then to be left with nothing to action for.
Commodore Bainimarama urged the AOSIS Leaders of the need to accelerate progress towards a concerted way forward in Copenhagen.
“We only have 90 days to reach an agreement that should in a tangible manner address and set out a plan - a plan that must not succumb to or be hijacked by the political agenda of a powerful few,” he said.
“ Day after day we are told about rising sea-levels in the Pacific, yet this has failed to persuade the powerful few to reduce emissions which so gravely affect our ecosystems and lives.
Commodore Bainimarama said for some addressing the issue of climate change is viewed by them as affecting the profitability of their companies or halting the progress of their development and industrialization.
“ However, what they don’t realize is that if we addressed climate change now it would mean long term sustainability of those profits. It would mean long term sustainability of development and progress. We cannot afford to be short sighted,” he said.
Prior to the World Leaders Summit, the Leaders of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), consisting of developing Island States of the Pacific, Caribbean and the African Region, met on 21 September 2009 to agree on a Declaration that outlines their unified position during the negotiations before and during the meeting in Copenhagen.
The importance of this Declaration cannot be overemphasized as it provides proof that AOSIS is firm, committed and is serious about climate change, an issue which in time may determine the future survival of their island countries.
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| PM Bainimarama, Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon Stephen Smith, Ambassador Berenado Vunibobo and Ambassador Winston Thompson at the PSIDS reception night. |
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| PM Bainimarama with new new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Hon Katsuya Okada at the PSIDS Reception. |