Fiji Calls on Global Community to facilitate Climate Finance Support for National Implementation Strategies

Fiji has called on the European Union and the wider international community to support efforts to facilitate access to finance that can allow smaller states to fully implement national adaptation and climate mitigation priorities that can effectively respond to the impacts of climate change.

Fiji’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Hon Inia Seruiratu made this call yesterday to Ministers from the European Union and the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States at the 44th Session of ACP – EU Council of Ministers Meeting. The meeting brings together Ministers from these countries to look at strengthening relations in the areas of trade and investment, development cooperation, climate and environment, migration, peace and security and sustainable development.

In delivering his remarks, Minister Seruiratu reminded the meeting that climate change presents the single greatest threat to the livelihood, security and well-being of the Pacific.

“Studies show that the adaptation cost for coastal protection in Pacific Island Countries is estimated to be 234 million U.S dollars per year by 2020 and 285 million per year by 2040 – and that is a best-case scenario. This cost will only increase with the projected impacts of climate change and disasters”, Minister Seruiratu said.

To respond to this challenge, Minister Seruiratu said that collective work and commitments were critical to build resilience capabilities in affected countries and communities.

“Access to climate finance and support to strengthen our absorptive and implementation capacity is the key. Despite the challenges that we face, we continue to be optimistic and committed to finding integrated and innovative approaches. The Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific, and the Pacific NDC Hub are regional efforts aimed at addressing climate change issues in the region.”

“The Pacific Resilience Facility is being developed, which proposes a regional fund to assist governments, private sector and communities to co-finance and leverage additional funding for both new infrastructure projects and/or retrofitting existing infrastructure – to prevent and reduce risk, and in doing so build resilience. EU support for this Pacific regional fund will be critical.”

“To achieve an economy-wide transformation, climate and disaster risk management actions need to be integrated into development policy and budget planning processes. To support our effort, we call on EU and the global community to deliver scaled-up levels of finance to enable our countries to implement their national adaptation and mitigation priorities.”

Minister Seruiratu also called on innovative support that recognises the special case and challenges faced by small Pacific Island Countries in accessing and managing climate finance.

“We further call for simplified access and the use of modalities, such as enhanced direct access and direct budgetary support which contribute to strengthening country ownership and leadership. In this regard, the successful replenishment of the Green Climate Fund will be a concrete outcome that the Pacific would want to see, for which we seek EU support. Concrete commitments through the UN Climate Action Summit and the COP25 engagements are crucial.”

At yesterday’s meeting, the EU Co-Chair and Romania’s State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Maria Magdalena Grigore praised the partnership of Fiji and Poland as COP Presidents for the successful delivery of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change Rulebook last year.