Fiji calls on World Leaders to the take United Action
26/09/2024
Hon. Qereqeretabua attends the UNGA high level ministerial meeting on strengthening multilateralism
26/09/2024Published On: 26/09/2024
The regional consultations on the Implementation Plan of the Pacific Regional Framework on Climate Mobility was convened at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) headquarters in Suva.
The consultation brought together Forum member States and Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) Agencies, to discuss the Implementation Plan of the Pacific Regional Framework on Climate Mobility that was endorsed at the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Forum Leaders further mandated that the Framework’s Implementation Plan be finalised as soon as practicable.
Fiji and Tuvalu are co-Chairs of the Joint Working Group on the Regional Framework. The Joint Working Group has been overseeing the process of putting together a Pacific Regional Framework on Climate Mobility since 2019. It is supported by technical partners: International Organization for Migration (IOM),
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), International Labour Organization (ILO), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD) and Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS).
In opening the consultations yesterday, the Fiji Co-Chair of the Joint Working Group, Ms Keleni Seruvatu, who is the Director, Multilateral Affairs Bureau at the Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) stated, “Let us not forget the trust our Pacific peoples have placed in us. This is not merely a policy workshop—it is an opportunity to safeguard our future.”
Ms. Seruvatu said “the Pacific Regional Framework on Climate Mobility gives us the chance to shape a future where climate mobility is managed with care, compassion, and foresight.”
“As you engage in discussions, think beyond the present. Think about the people who will be affected if we surpass 1.5 to 2 degrees of warming. Think about the innovation required to address their needs. The work we do today will define the future of our region and the generations to come,” Ms. Seruvatu stated.
In the call for action, Ms. Seruvatu said that “incorporating traditional knowledge into the Implementation Plan of the Pacific Regional Framework on Climate Mobility is essential and that by blending the traditional wisdom with modern science and policy, we can create innovative, culturally grounded solutions.”
“The success of this Framework hinges on how effectively we implement it. The work over the next day and a half will set the tone for years to come. We must ensure that the Implementation Plan is not just comprehensive but actionable and grounded in inclusivity. Women, youth, people with disability, Indigenous communities – their voices must guide our efforts. And we need partnerships that bring the resources and expertise necessary for meaningful progress” Ms. Seruvatu urged.
Ms. Leba Gaunavinaka from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change presented Fiji’s national efforts on planned relocation.
The Regional Framework and Implementation Plan contributes towards Fiji’s Foreign Policy White Paper priorities on Climate Change.
