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24/09/2024Published On: 21/09/2024
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) convened a Regional Dialogue on Ocean Based Climate Action (OBCA) on 19 September 2024 in Bangkok.
This Regional Dialogue was convened in alignment to ESCAP Resolution 79/2, “to accelerate ocean-based action to combat climate change, including through capacity building, innovation, technology development and transfer” and which requested the ESCAP Secretariat to convene a dialogue on ocean-based climate action (OBCA), prior to the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference.
The Regional Dialogue provided a platform for ESCAP member States and key stakeholder groups to identify challenges and options for regional action for ocean-based climate action – with a focus on opportunities for regional cooperation identified by the draft Regional Initiative on Ocean-based Climate Action. This draft Regional Initiative was co-sponsored by the governments of Fiji, Indonesia and Maldives.
Fiji was represented at the Dialogue by Ambassador Amenatave Yauvoli, Permanent Representative of Fiji to UNESCAP and Fiji’s Ambassador to Indonesia; Mr Selesio Tagivuni from the Ministry of Infrastructure & Transport; and Ms Vasiti Cirikiyasawa, Second Secretary at Fiji’s Embassy in Indonesia. The Hon. Assistant Minister Sakiusa Tubuna participated online and delivered the opening address for the Dialogue.
In his opening remarks, Hon. Tubuna stressed that strengthening partnerships within our region is crucial and emphasized the role of the “2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent” in providing a framework for our collective action, allowing us to pool resources, share best practices, and advocate for our shared interests globally.
He further reiterated that through regional collaboration, partners can engage from a position of strength, unity and solidarity on matters of collective interest, whilst ensuring that regional efforts complement national interests.
During the Dialogue, interactive sessions were also held, including a panel discussion on “Enhancing Climate Ocean Resilience”, where Ambassador Yauvoli highlighted regional initiatives being implemented by PSIDS to address the specific challenges of ocean-climate resilience in the Pacific and provided recommendations on how intergovernmental platforms like ESCAP can support Pacific SIDS in their collective efforts towards climate and ocean resilience.
At the closing plenary, the draft Regional Initiative was adopted by consensus paving the way for a platform under the ESCAP for its future work on enhancing Ocean Based Climate Actions in strengthening ocean-climate resilience.
These engagements undertaken by the Fiji Missions abroad align to Fiji’s Foreign Policy White Paper, which has been recently endorsed by the Cabinet.
