British Govt praises COP23; keen on Fijian Green Bonds
Fiji’s leadership on COP23 was commended by the British Government at a meeting between Prime Minister and COP23 President Voreqe Bainimarama, and the United Kingdom Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry, MP Claire Perry.
During the meeting, Ms Perry also said the British Government looked forward to welcoming Fijian Green Bonds onto the UK stock market.
Fijian Green Bonds are the first sovereign green bonds to be offered by a developing country anywhere in the world, and among an elite club globally, joined only by Poland and France.
Prime Minister Bainimarama took the opportunity to commend the UK Government, alongside the Canadian Government, on the launch of the “Powering Past Coal Alliance”, an alliance of governments and businesses launched during COP23 that aims to rapidly phase out traditional coal power. Fiji joined the alliance during the COP23 negotiations.
The Prime Minister reiterated Fiji’s commitment to the global shift away from the burning of coal, a major source of carbon emissions, in favour of cleaner renewable power sources.
In reiterating the British Government’s support of Fiji’s global campaign for climate action, Ms Perry also congratulated Fiji on becoming the first Small Island Developing State to take on a COP Presidency. The talks also covered next year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, and the Prime Minister welcomed the topics of climate resilience and adaptation as part of the meeting agenda. The Prime Minister also briefed Ms Perry on the International Blue Carbon Partnership undertaken by Australia to protect and manage coastal blue carbon ecosystems in the Pacific.
Fijian Green Bonds are the first sovereign green bonds to be offered by a developing country anywhere in the world, and among an elite club globally, joined only by Poland and France. Prime Minister Bainimarama took the opportunity to commend the UK Government, alongside the Canadian Government, on the launch of the “Powering Past Coal Alliance”, an alliance of governments and businesses launched during COP23 that aims to rapidly phase out traditional coal power. Fiji joined the alliance during the COP23 negotiations