Call for collective effort
PRIME Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says he is tired of hearing major emitters excuse inaction in cutting their own emissions on the basis that they were “just a fraction” of the world’s total.
“And for the international community to achieve net-zero emissions, we must accept zero excuses,” he said.
“Frankly, I’m tired of hearing major emitters excuse inaction in cutting their own emissions on the basis they are ‘just a fraction’ of the world’s total.”
While addressing world leaders who were present during the Carbon Neutrality Coalition (CNC) signing event in Spain yesterday, Mr Bainimarama said the truth was, in a family of nearly 200 nations, collective efforts was the key.
“We all must take responsibility for ourselves, and we all must play our part to achieve net-zero.
“As I like to say, we’re all in the same canoe. But currently, that canoe is taking on water with nearly 200 holes –– and there are too few of us trying to patch them.”
He also reminded world leaders that making a commitment to achieve netzero by 2050 was meaningless if it was not matched by short-term action.
“Without action today, such commitments are merely political greenwashing –– empty promises that will have little effect on our ability to deliver the goals of the Paris Agreement.
“Achieving net-zero won’t happen overnight, we need to immediately set ourselves on a new course and make steady and rapid progress each and every year over the next three decades.
“To do this, we need to come up with plans — plans that are in line with the science — and we need to immediately put those plans into action.”
... to achieve net-zero emissions, we must accept zero excuses – Voreqe Bainimarama