New Zealand has committed to mobilising a higher level of support for Fiji through climate financing and development of climate resilient infrastructure.
This was conveyed during a virtual meeting between the Prime Minister and Minister responsible for Climate Change, Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka and New Zealand’s Minister for Climate Change and Associate Minister for Environment, Rt. Honourable James Shaw today.
The meeting which took place on the margins of Prime Minister Rabuka’s first official visit to New Zealand signified the strength of cooperation and friendship between New Zealand and Fiji.
On behalf of the Government and people of Fiji, Prime Minister Rabuka conveyed his heartfelt appreciation to New Zealand for supporting Fiji through the provision of climate change financing.
On the same note, the Prime Minister acknowledged New Zealand’s contribution to the Climate Change Relocation Trust Fund which has helped relocate six of the 42 communities that need to relocate due to sea level rise and climate crisis.
Prime Minister Rabuka reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to work with New Zealand in the implementation of the recently launched Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Planned Relocation and similarly, share the best practices promoting climate action and environmental conservation.
He thanked New Zealand for the provision of an additional $NZD11M towards Fiji’s climate change objectives.
“Fiji is forever grateful to New Zealand for its tremendous support which demonstrates our shared commitment to build a resilient and stronger future for our two nations and the Pacific family,” Prime Minister Rabuka added.
Discussions at the meeting also included regional cooperation in the build up to the upcoming Pacific Island Forum (PIF) Leaders meeting to be held in Cook Islands later in the year.
Fiji and New Zealand will work together to advance the region’s collective call on socio-economic sustainability, resilience and inclusivity.
In response, Minister Shaw thanked Prime Minister Rabuka for his timely visit to New Zealand to advance cooperation at all levels.
He commended Fiji’s support towards New Zealand in the aftermath of Severe Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle.
Minister Shaw said New Zealand stands ready to support Fiji’s development priorities with climate change being an important area of cooperation.
Over the next four years (2022-2025), the New Zealand Government has committed $NZD1.3B to support countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, with at least 50 percent of the funding to be directed to Pacific Island countries.
