Concerted effort for climate change threat

No single government sector, development organisation, company, or industry can address the challenges of climate change on their own, nor can they do so through isolated and uncoordinated actions.

This was the message to the 30th Joint Commission for joint East Asia and the Pacific-Commission for South Asia Meeting at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, Nadi at the closing session on Monday by the Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, National Disaster Management, and Meteorological Services and COP23 Presidency High-level Champion Inia Seruiratu.

Mr Seruiratu said partnerships, co-ordination and joint initiatives must be at the core of how everyone responded to these challenges.

“This is crucial for the sustainability of the tourism sector and for the livelihoods of the people who depend on this.

“I hope this gathering of insights, experiences, and knowledge - from the diverse corners of the AsiaPacific region will set a strong platform for increased regional and global partnership and collaboration.”

He said while everyone was diverse in the geography of our land, the scale of individual economies, the culture everyone was faced by the threat of climate change.

Mr Seruiratu said each participating country had a booming tourism industry which ups the main Gross Domestic Product. Therefore, the threat of climate change placed on the tourism sector had broad and severe implications which impacted the national economies down to the livelihoods of local communities.

“It is clear that the attractions that draw tourists to our countries are under threat from climate change. “Our beautiful coral reefs are under threat from bleaching, our rich terrestrial and marine ecosystems are exposed to intensifying extreme weather events. Our local food produce, especially fish, is depleting, and our sandy white beaches are being washed away into the sea.” Mr Seruiratu said the threat did not belong to one sector or organisation and called for the partnerships and co-operation across all sectors, through all ranks of government and with all agencies and organisations.

He highlighted the Fijian Government’s developments to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss and where the tourism sector would play a role.

Mr Seruiratu said the Government was currently enhancing its nationally determined contributions, or NDCs, to include opportunities for emission reduction and adaptation through blue carbon related initiatives and through the agriculture and forestry sector.

He added the participation of the tourism industry would boost these initiatives.