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NADI, 17 OCTOBER 2017 (DEPTFO NEWS) --- Fijian Prime Minister and incoming COP23 President Voreqe Bainimarama this morning opened the Pre-COP meeting in Denarau, Nadi reminding Heads of states, Ministers and delegates of the impacts caused by climate change.
PM Bainimarama stressed that climate change crisis can no longer be ignored as it is happening around the world whether it is fires in California, Portugal and Spain or flooding in Nigeria, India and Bangladesh.
“It’s hard to find any part of the world that is unaffected by these events. And we in the Pacific need no lessons on this threat after Fiji was struck last year by the strongest cyclone ever to make landfall in the southern hemisphere. And Vanuatu was devastated by a similar event the year before.”
The Prime Minister also called on those present to rise to the challenge and commit themselves to solving problems caused by climate change.
“Fortunately there is not only hope that we can find and implement solutions to climate change but there is opportunity to create better lives for our citizens once we make the hard decisions that need to be made.”
“This is why the international negotiations are so vital to the interests of our people and the same is true for the people you all represent. As you know, Fiji’s task as President of these negotiations is to progress the implementation guidelines of the Paris Agreement – to bring the vision of the Paris Agreement to life. And to design the Facilitative Dialogue which many of you are already calling the “Talanoa Dialogue”.
“I must say that ever since Fiji introduced the Talanoa concept in Bonn back in May, it seems to have captured the imaginations of a great many of you. The spirit behind it seems to fit the needs of this process at this time. To share our stories in an atmosphere of respect, without finger-pointing. Not merely focusing on what people haven’t done but what they could and should do to lift ambition and reduce the risk to us all.
“And that’s the point of talanoa. It’s about delivering outcomes for the common good. And if Frank can be frank for a moment, I’ve always had a bit of trouble with the word “facilitative”. It’s a tongue-twister that really doesn’t resonate with my own people, that’s for sure.
“So Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen: urgency, political will, co-operation, ambition and an absolute dedication to meet the 1.5 degree target is what we need and what we must take to Bonn. It’s not enough to scare people. We can’t resign ourselves to our fate. We have to inspire in our people the absolute certainty that life will get better if we solve this problem. It’s a future we don’t have to be afraid of if we have the courage to act.
And so with less than three weeks to COP, let’s get to work to make this vision real. Because the work that we will do together matters. It will shape a world of decisions that will take us in a new and better direction,” Bainimarama told delegates.
More than 300 delegates from 68 countries are attending the Pre-COP meeting.....PACNEWS
FIJI - PRE COP23: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 2: Tue 17 Oct 2017
