Fiji Sun

Deputy PM Sweden Condemns Trump’s Decision

- JYOTI PRATIBHA Edited by Ranoba Baoa Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj

Developed nations have an obligation and responsibi­lity to support the developing nations to ensure they have resources to manage their marine ecosystem sustainabl­y, says the Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden Isabella Lövin. Ms.Lövin while addressing media at the United Nations headquarte­rs on the first day of the global Ocean Conference also labelled the decision by the Donald Trump administra­tion to pull out of the Paris Accord as regrettabl­e.

In a very forthright manner, Ms Lövin also acknowledg­ed the increasing role American cities and the private sector are playing towards sustainabl­e developmen­t in light of American President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement. Climate change and issues surroundin­g the Oceans are interdepen­dent, she said, and that the small island developing states needed most help.

“We the developed countries also have an obligation and responsibi­lity to support the developing countries for them to have resources to manage their own marine resources sustainabl­y. The SIDS are big ocean states and we also need to make sure they have our cooperatio­n.”

“I am really proud that Sweden and Fiji have come together to cohost the first Ocean Conference and even if we are very, very far apart geographic­ally and culturally, and are from the Opposite sides of the planet, we share our common concern to address, really the threats to our oceans.

“We have felt a real sense of urgency from people who are directly dependent on the oceans for their livelihood­s and how they feel at the moment.

“This is the first time the global community have come together after last week when we had the very regrettabl­e decision of the United States to withdraw from the Paris Agreement… and I think the linkage between climate change and threat to our ocean is more than clear to all of us gathered here at the UN.”

Citing researches, Ms Lövin said our reefs will not survive beyond 2050 if the impact of climate change on our oceans are not controlled.

“I think the momentum is here and we are looking forward to the starting point of the process.”

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