Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has told US President-elect Donald Trump his climate change stand will be disastrous for every person on the earth.

He was speaking at the United Nations climate change conference, COP22, in Marrakesh, Morocco

He appealed to Mr Trump to have “a personal change of heart and a public change

of policy on the issue of climate change.”

He invited Mr Trump to Fiji to see the impact of climate change.

“Please come as a matter of urgency to see for yourself the devastating impact that rising sea levels and extreme weather events are already having on our people and our way of life.

“We will show you how we are already having to move entire communities out of the way of the rising seas. And you can meet the families of the 44 Fijians who were killed last February by the biggest tropical cyclone ever to make landfall in the southern hemisphere,” Mr Bainimarama said.

“Sir, you have said that you do not believe that climate change is man-made and you intend, as President, to cut off America’s contribution to the global effort to reduce carbon emissions.

“I am especially alarmed by reports that you intend to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, which would be disastrous for every person on earth.

“I appeal to you to show the leadership that the rest of the world expects the United States to take on this issue. Please take another look at the overwhelming scientific consensus on the man-made effects of global warming.”

He said the commitment to lower global warming to 2 degree Celsius was not enough.

“Not nearly enough.  And I urge the global community to go even further than the Paris commitment to keep global temperatures “well below two degrees Celsius” above the temperature of the world in the pre-industrial age.

He said: “The Pacific nations – under the Suva Declaration – are pressing for a fresh cap of 1.5 degrees Celsius. And it is becoming increasingly clear from recent scientific evidence that even that may be too high. And that even deeper cuts in carbon emissions are needed to avert catastrophe.”

Edited by Naisa Koroi

Feedback:  nemani.delaibatiki@fijisun.com.fj