Climate Change Conference in Fiji critical for the region

Wellington, July 24, 2018
Climate Change Minister James Shaw will be reinforcing that urgency and ambition are needed regarding action on Climate Change as a Pacific Conference gets underway tomorrow (Wednesday) in Fiji.
He will be attending the second Climate Action Pacific Partnership conference (CAPPII), over the next three days in Suva.
The CAPP was established in July 2017, as part of Fiji’s Presidency of the 23rd UN Climate Change Conference Of The Parties (COP23).
The CAPP is focused on accelerating climate action in the Pacific and supporting implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The following is a Statement issued by James Shaw:
At the conference, I will be explaining the work that is happening here in New Zealand on climate change and sending the clear message that we, as Pacific nations, can show strength and leadership together on this issue.
Serious threats in Pacific Islands
Speaking with young Pasifika representatives before leaving for Fiji, they told me Pacific island nations need the global community to take climate change seriously.
They also explained to me that there are Pasifika entrepreneurs and innovators looking for new opportunities to get action on climate change happening, alongside government.
In turn, I made clear to these representatives of the future that I will be pushing for ambitious global action to address climate change, including at this conference.
Objectives of Paris Agreement
Together we need to meet the Paris Agreement’s objective of keeping global warming well below 2 o Celsius and pursue efforts to keep warming under 1.5 o if we are to have any chance of limiting things like sea level rise and ocean acidification.
As one of the representatives said to me, Pacific island people are saying ‘We have a right to survive’, and that message will be guiding my work at the Conference.
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Picture of James Shaw from File