Executives of the Fiji-founded Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) are happy about the outcome of the one day summit on climate change President Francois Hollande of France hosted in Paris for Pacific Island Leaders.
Called the France Oceania Summit, most leaders of the Pacific attended including the founder and current chair of the PIDF, Prime Minister of Fiji, Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama.
Also in attendance was the new Secretary General of the PIDF Francois Martel and his climate adviser Dr Mahendra Kumar.
“The meeting attended by Heads of State and government or representatives of Pacific Island Countries and Territories, called upon the UNFCCC COP21 to be held from 30 November to 11 December “to recognise the urgency of tackling climate change and of implementing targeted solutions to build the resilience of Pacific Island Countries and Territories, as well as the necessity of progressing towards low-carbon economies,” said a statement released by PIDF at the end of the Paris summit.
It quoted Secretary General Martel as saying the final declaration was notable for its recognition of Pacific Islands Development Forum as an important agency working in areas including climate change and sustainable development.
“A number of important issues from the Suva Declaration of Climate Change were also reinforced in this Declaration. These included the expectation of COP21 to lead to a universal, legally binding, dynamic, durable and ambitious agreement that will establish rules and mechanisms to limit global warming consistent with the ultimate objective of the Convention.
“The Declaration made a call for the inclusion in the Paris outcome of loss and damage as a critical and standalone element for building resilience against climate change impacts, including responding to extreme weather and slow onset events, and builds on the ongoing work of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage.”
Notable points of the France-Oceania Summit Declaration also echoed the PIDF statement said “calls for rapid access to funds, particularly through the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Fund and other multilateral sources, for adaptation and mitigation actions. The requirement that funds for adaptation be grant-based was emphasised.”
It said the Paris meeting recognised the value of further strengthening relationship between Oceania and France and the French territories of Oceania through regular dialogue and meetings, including the organisation of the 5th France-Oceania Summit.
Both Prime Minister Bainimarama as well as other leaders in the Pacific began returning to Paris yesterday in time for the opening of the UNFCCC’s COP21 meeting at the Paris suburb of Le Bourget today.