Koroilavesau Represents Region at Arctic Circle Conference on Climate Change
Members of the Arctic Circle met in Reykjavik, Iceland from the 10th – 12th of October 2019. The annual event brings together members of the Arctic Circle to discuss issues of climate change and its impact to the Arctic region and the world.
Participation
As part of addressing transparency and inclusiveness, participation is extended to global partners and other countries including Pacific Island States that are adversely affected by the melting ice within the Arctic Region and climate change.
Region represented
The region is being represented by the Minister for Fisheries (Fiji) Semi Koroilavesau, Minister for Natural Resources (Niue) Honorable. Dalton Tagelagi and Cook Island Ambassador Honorable Kevin Iro.
Official opening
The conference was officially opened by Olafur Ragna Grimsson, the Chairman of the Arctic Circle who was the former President of Iceland from 1996 – 2016.
In his remarks, Mr Grimsson highlighted that ‘to maintain the momentum of growth, there is an urgent need for an open democratic, accountable dialogue where everyone can participate.
About the conference
The annual Arctic Conference allows for that as it underpins the need for honest and transparent dialogue.” The meeting also attended by the Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden who stated that: “The time to act is now if we are to ensure that our aspiration for our children is achieved through partnership and collaboration.” The Crown Princess also took time to meet with regional leaders in which discussions centered on the Pacific regions quest on sustainable management of tuna resources in the Pacific, climate change impacts and adaptation and how to collaborate to address the increase in effort by distant water fishing nations.
Climate change
The programme also continued with a plenary session dedicated to the Pacific titled “Climate Change Impacts on Pacific Fisheries. Mr Koroilavesau and Mr Tagelagi (the Minister for Niue) led the discussions and highlighted the key issues faced by the Pacific Islands in relation to depleting stocks, climate change, implications and adaptive measures. Apart from these engagements, the visiting delegation will also attend site visits focused on successful fisheries development that can be used to improve development within the Pacific Region. The conference will end tomorrow with delegations certainly returning with viable principles that fit development aspirations for the Pacific region.