Climate crisis impacts all areas of life – Prof. Prasad

The climate crisis impacts all areas of life, livelihoods and human security, and in doing so with fierceness not seen before.

This was highlighted by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad while speaking at a seminar associated with the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Suva.

Prof. Prasad says the Pacific Islands are now at a cliff edge and as a region, as countries and as people, we face some of the hardest and cruellest choices.

He says for some reasons, the region as a whole has made some progress on the sustainable development goals but nevertheless, our region is largely falling behind as several of the global goals are gradually getting out of reach altogether.

He adds the growing multi-dimensional and multi-sectoral vulnerabilities are also touching all aspects of human life and their impacts are felt most acutely by women, the disabled and elderly, and by our young.

Prof. Prasad says as our communities and region struggle, this is a time to ask some hard questions.

He asked why is there a growing divison between what our development partners say and what they do and why, at a time when we are so vulnerable to this existential threat must the region is subject to a new era of geopolitical contestation, when they say they are with us on our existential threat.

He says there is a disconnect between this and the resources that they offer on the table which leaves the question as to why is there a disconnect between what multilateral banks and global funds say and what they do.

Prof. Prasad says they know too well that the region’s adaptation to climate change cannot be, must not be, financed through loans whether they be soft or hard, and the region knows too well that there are no good and bad guys in the geopolitical contestation.

He further says all large economies are equally to blame for the state in which we now find ourselves.