PM calls on world leaders to take heed of the climate emergency

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum virtually participated at the High-Level Blue Pacific to Glasgow Forum today.

The Forum was organized by the 45th Vice President of the United States, Al Gore and hosted by the Climate Reality Project and the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama delivered a powerful opening remark calling on world leaders to take heed of the climate emergency, raise climate ambition and operationalize these ambitions to keep the global average temperature below 1.5 degrees Celsius and mobilise dedicated climate finance for Small Island Developing States.

Bainimarama has also urged leaders to arrive at COP26 in Glasgow with meaningful climate commitments.

During the event, Sayed-Khaiyum highlighted the critical need to include Oceans in the global climate negotiations.

He emphasized the importance of urgently mobilizing US$100 billion per year in climate finance and scaling this up to US$750 billion per year post 2025, of which at least 10 per cent needs to flow to Small Island Developing States.

Sayed-Khaiyum adds COVID-19 should not be used as an excuse by development partners to scale back development finance.