We must not turn a blind eye to our climate – PM

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says as the world looks to rebuild COVID-19’s rubble, we must not turn a blind eye to our climate.

While speaking during the Panel Discussion on Oceans, Bainimarama says frighteningly, the world is seemingly becoming numb to the COVID-19 crisis, precisely when it needs to be addressed most.

Bainimarama says in many developed nations, many people are more focused on Christmas shopping than containing the growing catastrophe at their doorsteps. He adds many of the same great consequences that have come to light during the pandemic are consequences of a changing climate, and specifically, to an ocean under siege.

Bainimarama further says the loss of life, destruction of livelihoods, and economic devastation are shared scars of our health and oceans crises.

He says in many ways –– and as hard as it is to see this now –– the global oceanic emergency we face is even worse than COVID-19 adding while pandemics of this scale or larger have come and gone, usually about once every century, climate change and the degradation of the ocean is causing damage that cannot be undone.

Bainimarama says our oceans simply cannot be cured with a shot in the arm; the seas that we pass to our children and grandchildren are at risk of damage beyond repair.