PM Bainimarama Calls on Leaders to Commit to Cap Emissions
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama is once again calling on the world’s leading emitters to step up and make commitments close enough to cap emissions at responsible levels.
He was speaking at the Solar and Small Island Development States (SIDS) Making the Sun Shine Brighter event in Madrid, Spain yesterday.
“Four years of negotiations and countless interventions later, I’m sad to say the race towards net zero emissions has barely begun.”
He said the 1.5-degree target is the only target that ensures the survival of many peoples across the globe.
“The millions of people taking to the streets here in Madrid and across the world are making it clear that - when it comes to net-zero transition, leaders who fail to summon the political will to act will suffer the political costs.”
He said Fiji was successfully transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources such as solar .
This is to ensure that Fiji can build a clean and sustainable economy that serves the short and long-term interests of every Fijian. “We’re overcoming the challenges of geography by installing solar panels in rural and maritime communities, avoiding the massive costs of expanding our national grid across all of our 128 populated islands, and cultivating climate resilience in these communities” “Through a landmark partnership with UN Women and the Barefoot College in India, we’re training Fijian women from rural communities to become solar engineers so they can take up careers maintaining solar units back in Fiji.”
Mr Bainimarama said countries must tap into the vast untapped potential of solar power to revolutionise the cars, the vessels that sail the waters, and the entire manner in which the societies create and consume energy.
Protected Areas
At least 30 per cent of Fiji’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) will be declared as protected areas by 2030.
While speaking at the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion High Level Event and Reception with New Zealand for Pacific Leaders and friends, Mr Bainimarama said Fiji is committed to using international forums to chart a different future for the oceans.
“Fiji is set to launch a national oceans policy, which considers spatial planning around our Exclusive Economic Zones, surveillance, security and efforts to tap into traditional practices and values, to achieve this goal.”
Fiji has also partnered with the Marshall Islands to lead the development of the Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership, which aims to dramatically reduce emissions from our domestic shipping fleets.
Partnership with the world bank
On the margins of COP25, Mr Bainimarama met with the Managing Director Operations of the World Bank, Axel van Trotsenburg. Mr Bainimarama was pleased to see Fiji’s relationship with the World Bank developing to new heights in the mutually beneficial pursuit of economic development and global stability.
“I am very appreciative of the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) eligibility that supports and recognises the unique development challenges faced by small and vulnerable states through the Small Island Economies Exception policy.”
He said Fiji’s re-classification as an International Development Association (IDA)-eligible country will help Fiji further address the current and future impacts of climate change to our people, environment, and economy.
The World Bank’s South Pacific Hub is based in Suva.
The new hub will play a significant role in the promotion of new financial innovation in the Pacific.