As the curtains fall at the COP25 in Madrid, Spain, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has yet again challenged global leaders

“Our eyes, and the eyes of billions of concerned global citizens – are on the leaders of developed economies. In achieving net-zero, we will be accepting zero excuses.”

Mr Bainimarama was speaking at the closing of the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion, a Pacific partnership supported by New Zealand and Fiji.

“If the world continues to neglect and abuse the health of our oceans, we will bench our most valuable player in the climate action campaign.”

Mr Bainimarama also shifted the focus to next year’s COP26 in Glasgow.

“COP26 will mark five years since the achievement of the Paris Agreement. Those years of interventions must amount to something; all the words we’ve spoken must lead to something; and our people’s continued suffering at the hands of the high-emitters must count for something.

“Whether it is on land or in our seas, the unchecked rise of global emissions is unleashing untold destruction. At the end of the day, nothing matters more for oceans health than supplying the global commitments necessary to meet the 1.5-degree target,” Mr Bainimarama said.

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