The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) is one of the ‘most battle-hardened climate catastrophe fighting forces in the world’.

Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Satyendra Prasad made this statement while speaking to Fijian soldiers of the Multinational Force and Observer Group (MFO) at their base in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, yesterday.

The MFO’s role is to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace through maintaining four security zones, three in the Sinai in Egypt and one in Israel along the international border.

Mr Prasad led a Fijian delegation from COP27 to the base where they were warmly welcomed by the 41st battalion.

The battalion is under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Saula Koro.

He said Fijian forces had led the response to climate catastrophe after catastrophe – from category 5 meta cyclones to once-in-a-century levels of flooding and bushfires.

Ambassador Prasad said the message was clear – the world must prepare for the far reaching security consequences of climate change.

He thanked the women and men of the RFMF for their great service to peace in one of the most sensitive and complex regions of the world.

“Fiji had argued before the UN Security Council that extreme weather events such as floods, cyclones and droughts will fuel and exacerbate conflict,” he said.

“Fijian peacekeeping experiences acquired in the Mid East, Africa and elsewhere tell us that access to water, food, fishing grounds and grazing lands are weaponized by competing groups.”

“Fiji is bringing this knowledge into its peacekeeping preparation and deployment. Peacekeepers of the future must be climate and security informed and enabled.”

“Fiji looks to the UN and its partners to develop these capabilities more substantively through its Blackrock facility.”

Although Fiji was a small peacekeeping country, Ambassador Prasad said Fiji was leading from the front on climate and security from the frontlines of the climate crisis.

“One of the greatest investments the world can make for peace and security is to keep global warming within the 1.5 Degree temperature rise limit. If we breach this, there will be an explosion of climate-induced conflicts and wars.”

While thanking the men and women under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Koro, Ambassador Prasad stressed that Fiji’s leadership on climate and security was backed by and strongly linked to the great work that Fijians do in peacekeeping, peacebuilding and in responding to climate catastrophes.

“Our country- and the world- is deeply thankful for this,” said Prasad.

“The colours of the second Fiji Infantry Regiment are in your hands now and we must strive to achieve the standards expected of us. You have our utmost support in your duties here. We are all ambassadors of Fiji in the respective areas we serve in.”

As our brave peacekeeping men and women work to maintain peace, Fiji’s COP27 delegation is also working hard to ensure tangible outcomes from negotiations.

Priorities include championing concrete steps to align to the 1.5 degree temperature goal; adequate climate finance to mitigate and adapt; new and additional loss and damage finance; and streamlining oceans in the climate agenda.

Going into week two of negotiations, Fiji continues to fight for survival and a sustainable future for all.

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