The Marshall Islands would be the only Pacific Island nation to be represented at the Leaders Summit on Climate.

It is a virtual meeting which will include 40 world leaders. This is an effort to show the world the United States return to important issues like Climate Change after former President Donald Trump’s decision to back out of the Paris Agreement.

Australia and New Zealand have been invited along with the Micronesian island state.

The Embassy of the United States here was questioned why Fiji was not invited given the fact that it had been one of the first island nations take the fight to the global level.

In response, it replied that the primary objective of the Summit was to encourage the world’s major economies, and especially the original members of the Major Economies Forum on Climate and Energy, which together represent 80 per cent of global emissions and 80 per cent of global GDP, to enhance ambition to keep the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach.

“To ensure the Summit captures as many diverse viewpoints as possible, the United States has invited other voices, such as leaders that are charting innovative pathways to a net-zero economy,” the Embassy said.

“The Summit is only one of several major climate-related events in the run-up to COP-26, which will be a global event.

“We look forward to working with governments around the world to raise the level of global ambition to meet the climate challenge.”

Feedback:shalveen.chand@fijisun.com.fj