Fiji will know today whether our bid for the presidency of the 2017 Global Climate Change Conference (COP 23) is successful.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said Fiji was ready to take up the position but was also aware of the responsibility that came with it.

In his closing remarks at the high level event on accelerating climate action in Marrakesh, Morocco he reiterated the need to work together.

“In the context of the global challenge to combat climate change, no one party can do it alone,” Mr Bainimarama said.

Mr Bainimarama maintained Fiji’s stance on the 1.5 degree Celsius pathway.

In fact Fiji’s Parliament was the first of 175 countries to approve the ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Mr Bainimarama had called for countries to not only ratify the agreement, but to further lower the proposed cap on global warming from 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels to 1.5 degree.

“I firmly believe that the work of the high-level champions will be crucial in mobilising innovation from every level, every development sphere and every corner of our planet, to add momentum to this global climate action agenda,” he said.

“If we are to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, we must all go further and faster in delivering climate action before 2020.

“The Marrakesh Partnership for Global Climate Action provides a good basis for future High-Level Champions to catalyse and support action by Parties and non-Party stakeholders.

“The Marrakesh Partnership is call to action. As global citizens of this planet, we each must shoulder a responsibility to carry this call to every gathering, every boardroom, every parliament and to every corner of this planet as it is only through working together that we stand a chance of saving our planet not for ourselves, but for our children and grandchildren.”

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

Feedback:  rosi.doviverata@fijisun.com.fj