The Pacific and Koronivia Pavilion has opened its doors at COP24 to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, bringing the Pacific flavour to the event in Katowice, Poland.
The Pavilion will showcase events highlighting Pacific innovation and climate action, being freely available to the 20,000 plus delegates attending the UNFCCC COP24.
The Pavilion itself is a unique partnership between COP23 Presidency of Fiji, with support from the New Zealand Government, and the Pacific's regional agencies.
Climate Champion and Minister for Defense and National Security Inia Seruiratu spoke on behalf of Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama in Poland, thanking the New Zealand Government and acknowledging the support of all the regional agencies which came together for the Pavilion.
He says that this is a unique partnership they have forged, they have the opportunity to highlight the particular vulnerability of Pacific islanders to climate change and spread the word about their collective mitigation and adaptation efforts.
The Pacific and Koronivia Pavilion is centred around three key themes stemming from COP23: the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture; the Ocean Pathway Partnership; and the Talanoa Dialogue.
Seruiratu also highlighted to leaders gathered in Poland that Koronivia is where for many years the Fijian Government has had an agricultural research and training station where many prominent Pacific agriculturists have received training adding that it is fitting that the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture is named after this site given its history of innovation and strengthening capacities of Small Island Developing States.
On behalf of the New Zealand Government, Ms Anna Broadhurst congratulated the COP23 Presidency of Fiji for leaving a successful legacy for COP24, and expressed New Zealand's excitement over the Pavilion partnership and the side events to come over the next two weeks.
Fiji has formally handed over the presidency of COP to Poland, however the Fijian Government has expressed its intention to continue playing a lead role in the area of climate change, especially in the Talanoa dialogues that have occurred not only at COP but around the world.
