Forest action took centre stage at the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action’s Forests Day at the COP23 climate talks, with the launch of an Ecuadorean initiative to reduce 15 million tonnes of Carbon emissions.
This is a new commitment to deforestation‑free commodities by Walmart, and a confirmation of the key role of forests in collectively addressing climate change.
While speaking at the event, the Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Climate Change Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum expressed Fiji's delight to see the important role of forests in sustainable development and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Sayed‑Khaiyum says these ecosystems are high on the agenda for Small Island Developing States because the Pacific is among the most vulnerable nations to the impacts of climate change.
He says while important progress has been made in protecting these ecosystems to enhance resilience to a changing climate, there is a need for all countries to make forest protection and rehabilitation and the financing of all forest ecosystems a priority.
Sayed-Khaiyum says there is also a need to create real incentives to attract both public and private finance to delivering nature based solutions.
