Samoan Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, yesterday called on all Pacific Island Leaders to rally behind the COP 23 Fijian Presidency.

Tuilaepa made the call when he formally opened the 48th Pacific Islands Leaders Forum and Related Meetings in Apia, Samoa on Monday.

The Prime Minister of Samoa and his deputy Fiame Naomi Mataafa also attended the COP 23 Fijian Presidency side event that Fiji organised in the margins of the Forum.

Speaking, following the announcement, Head of the Fijian Delegation and Minister of Defence and National Security, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola said the support from the Government of Samoa strengthened Fiji’s strategy to solidarity and the development of clear pathways as the region prepares for COP 23.

Crucial

At the side event meeting Ratu Inoke called for the Pacific Leaders unyielding support and leadership to help Fiji make COP23 a success.

“Your leadership and supporting role is critical,” he said.

He said he understood that a Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) Leaders meeting had been planned in the margins of the 72nd UN General Assembly in New York next week. While these priority issues are earmarked for further discussions there, he said the Fiji team in Apia was there to assist them and helped in these discussions for a clear role for them towards COP23.

Ratu Inoke said that in May this year, Prime Minster Voreqe Bainimarama launched for the first time – Fiji’s Vision of COP23, which could be summarised as;

1. A COP that is transparent and inclusive of all,
2. A COP that advances the Paris Agreement and accelerates climate action for all vulnerable nationsand societies, and

iii. A COP that draws on our own experiences as small island developing states in the Pacific.

Ratu Inoke said “These are the principles that will govern our tenure when our PM assumes the role of COP President in November later this year.”

He said for the past few months, Fiji, through its COP23 Secretariat, had been working with them and their officials to identify key priority issues that Fiji could take to COP23.

Starting in New York in June and again at the Climate Action Pacific Partnership Event in Fiji in July, he said a host of issues clearly emerged and were discussed as important priorities for us.

These include:

 the Facilitative “Talanoa” Dialogue,

 the Implementation Guidelines or advancing the Paris Agreement Rule Book;

 Gender and Local Communities and Indigenous People’s (LCIP) Platform,  Adaptation,

 Loss and Damage, and

 Oceans Pathway developing a pathway through 2020 that strengthens the Ocean/climate nexus.

The 48th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Apia, Samoa ends on Friday with the Forum Leaders Retreat.

Edited by Mohammed Ali

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