Page 26 - IB JAN 2017

Climate Change

From Paris,

to Marrakech

to the Pacific

Decisions made at international events on climate change affect communities and settlements in small island nations. Photo: UNDP
us here in the Pacific region. a role. This means Fiji will organise the
We won’t paint a story of how climate event which will be hosted at the head-
change is impacting us in the Pacific is- quarters of the UNFCCC Secretariat in
lands as this is a story that we all know so Bonn, Germany from 6–17 November next
well. We will, however have a look at what year. Fiji will also facilitate dialogues and
190+ country parties have agreed to at the workshops over the coming year to help
by Kosi Latu international level, which will eventually bring about resolutions that will serve all
affect us all in our homes at the national parties to the UNFCCC.
and community level. Congratulations Fiji and SPREP is ready,
WHILE the twenty-second Conference History was made yet again, with the willing and available to provide support
of the Parties to the UN Convention on Paris Agreement legally coming into force and assistance for the year ahead.
Climate Change (UNFCCC COP23) may be just days before the actual COP22 started The Marrakech Action Proclamation for
Climate Change over, it was straight from one monumental in Marrakech, Morocco, and for this we Our Climate and Sustainable Development
environment event to another with the must congratulate our Pacific island mem- was adopted calling for the highest politi-
start of the thirteenth Conference of the bers who played a pivotal role in helping to cal commitment to combat climate change,
Parties to the UN Convention on Biologi- make this happen by ensuring they had all as a matter of urgent priority.
cal Diversity (CBD COP13) that followed ratified the agreement within a one-year It also called for further climate change
in Cancun, as well as the eighth Green period. Congratulations also to another of action and support, well in advance of
Climate Fund Board Meeting hosted by our members from the Pacific, Australia, 2020, taking into account the specific
Samoa. who announced its ratification of the Paris needs and special circumstances of devel-
Finding a moment of calm in this hectic Agreement during the COP. oping countries, the least developed coun-
international schedule, there is always a There were other milestone moments tries and those particularly vulnerable to
good time to reflect on the outcomes of for our Pacific island region, with Fiji the adverse impacts of climate change.
the UNFCCC COP23 hosted in Marrakech announced as the new President of the It was in Marrakech that it was agreed
from 7– 8 November, and to understand UNFCCC COP23, the first time for a Small for the Adaptation Fund to serve the Paris
how some of these outcomes may impact Islands Developing State to take up such Agreement pending decisions on gover-

26 Islands Business, January 2017