A- G virtually discuss climate challenges with UK Pacific Minister
Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, held a virtual meeting with the United Kingdom’s Minister for the Pacific and the Environment, Lord Zac Goldsmith on Wednesday.
They discussed cooperation between the UK and Fiji in addressing the huge challenge of climate change.
The two ministers discussed ways of working together to increase global ambition on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and for adaptation and resilience in response to the impact of the climate emergency. They underlined the need to create a sustainable ocean economy and the importance of including the ocean in climate related debates, an area where Fiji has shown important leadership.
The meeting came ahead of the Climate Ambition Summit on December 12, to be hosted by the UK along with France and the UN. The Summit will mark the fifth anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement. At the summit, world leaders will present updated and enhanced national plans for tackling the climate emergency. Fiji has been a leader in its advocacy for urgent action to deal with the climate crisis and has committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
British High Commissioner, George Edgar, said “The UK is ready to act internationally, not only making the case for increased ambition but also leading by example and stepping up domestic action. As a country already facing impacts of climate change, Fiji’s voice is an influential one and we look forward to working together to ensure the Climate Action Summit is a success.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, as minister responsible for climate change, said: “Five years post-Paris, the need for action is more urgent than ever, yet nations’ collective climate commitments still fall well short of averting climate catastrophe for the planet.
“A growing list of nations is committed to net-zero emissions by mid-century – including Fiji and the UK. Every government on Earth must find the will to join us and position themselves for blue, green, and sustainable opportunities. The need to build climate resilience, meanwhile, is equally urgent. Fiji is working closely with our partners, like the UK, to pioneer innovative financial solutions, such as blue bonds, to bridge the gap in climate-related finance in the most vulnerable countries” said Mr SayedKhaiyum.
The UK will host the next United Nations Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in November next year.