Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says that as the world looks to rebuild on COVID-19’s rubble, the world needs to also focus on climate change.
Speaking during the launch of the Ocean Panel’s new ocean action agenda yesterday, Mr Bainimarama said the world needed to focus on healing humanity and our oceans at the same time.
“So as the world looks to rebuild COVID-19’s rubble, we must not turn a blind eye to our climate, but instead, focus on healing humanity and our oceans at the same time,” he said.
“Fiji –– through each of you ––has a unique perspective to lend to the global Ocean Panel.
“Around the world, from PIF to COP to the UN General Assembly and on any other stage, we can seize, we have echoed a Pacific plea for the fate of our planet: the climate emergency is an oceanic emergency.
“In Fiji we see first-hand every day how ocean ecosystems are buckling under the strain of a warming world, pollution, overfishing and other reckless abuse from humankind.”
He added that Fiji’s National Ocean Policy will serve as a compass for sustainable management of our oceans, through action within our shores and aggressive advocacy abroad.
Mr Bainimarama was joined virtually by 13 other world leaders who shared a commitment to the 100 per cent sustainable management of our oceans.
Also joining the panel discussion were some of world’s most well versed experts on the health of our oceans and what measures it would take to save them.
