Bainimarama Expresses Disappointment on Communique Language
Prime Minister Bainimarama has expressed his disappointment with the language coming out of the Pacific Islands Forum communiqué.
And that Australia fails to recognise climate change for what it is - a global crisis. Mr Bainimarama had a press conference in the lobby of the airport in Funafuti, Tuvalu.
“I, along with my fellow Pacific Heads of Government, will continue to push the region’s largest carbon emitter to transition from coal to clean energy, and continue to be a voice for all climate-vulnerable peoples,” Mr Bainimarama said. “That shared sense of togetherness in the face of adversity may be the best outcome of this week; I was able to fully appreciate the united voice of Pacific small island developing states.” Mr Bainimarama shares how the ‘leaders retreat’ had transpired on Thursday night. “As we sat through 12 contentious hours of debate over the language of the communique, it was refreshing to see that this is not a political issue for the climate-vulnerable nations in the room –– it is a matter of survival.
“I leave this week feeling closer and more in harmony with my fellow island leaders, and for that alone, this PIF will prove invaluable,” he added. The Prime Minister highlighted how rewarding it was to have had the Pacific Islands Forum Meeting.
“It was also rewarding to see that issues that were once on the fringes of climate discussions –– in particular, the health of our oceans –– has been mainstreamed into these dialogues. We garnered widespread international praise for a landmark announcement made in Parliament last week: That Fiji endorses a 10-year moratorium on seabed mining to allow for scientific study, along with our plans to have a 100 per cent sustainably-managed exclusive economic zone, with 30 per cent of that as marine protected areas, by 2030.
“I look forward to other nations following our lead, and for this to lay a foundation for a successful ‘Blue COP’ in Chile later this year,” he said.