Two world leaders have made their stance clear that Europe will step in and fill the financial gap that America has left after President Donald Trump’s decision to renege on the Paris Agreement.

Mr Trump has promised to withdraw the United States financial support for climate funding which assists vulnerable states to counter effects of climate change.

During the high level segment of COP23, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke frankly about what they would do and what they expected Europe to do.

The two joined other world leaders to deliver their national statements in the Bula Zone.

Speaking in French, Mr Macron said about 15,000 scientists had been warning the world about the catastrophe climate change would cause. He said that if nothing was done, a number of island nations which were represented at the COP23 meeting, would cease to exist, Fiji included.

He said climate action was also about climate justice – justice for those countries who had not contributed much to global warming since their emissions had been negligible compared to that of industrialised nations.

Mr Macron said while Fiji was leading that commitment, all countries had a responsibility which must be fulfilled. He proposed that Europe fill the gap that had been left by America.

German Chancellor Ms Merkel said irrespective of American President Donald Trump’s decision to leave the Paris talks, other nations needed to come onboard and act now on their commitment.

She mentioned that while Germany did have to factor in job security on its coal mines, it was going above and beyond to meet its obligations to the world, especially the small island vulnerable nations.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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