Fiji and Pacific leaders fought a good fight: EU

The European Union has commended Fiji and the neighboring Pacific islands for putting up a good fight at the COP21 meeting in Paris, France.

EU’s Head of Delegation to Fiji and the Pacific Andrew Jacobs has praised Pacific leaders for making their voices heard by the developed countries to combat climate change that’s affecting the region.

Jacobs says the EU has lauded the coordinated efforts from the Pacific as the outcome worked out well.

“This was the one big chance to really make a difference and get an agreement and the PICs put in all of the resources necessary to get their message across and they did that very clearly and I think one big difference this time is that developed countries and developing countries worked alongside each other to find a solution. I also want to congratulate Fiji on a very important role played through the work of Ambassador Amena Yauvoli and also through the work of the Prime Minister and the Ministers and Foreign Minister who were at the Paris event and Fiji played an important role well in getting the voice of the Pacific heard.”

Jacobs adds that for now it is time for implementation of the climate agreement deal as more work is yet to be done with a long term goal to be achieved.

French Embassy deputy head of Mission to Fiji Jules Irrmann added the Pacific played a very important role as it was led with a very strong leadership.

Meanwhile, Jale Curuki, a PHD student at the Pacific Center for Environmental Development told FBC News it was an overwhelming experience in Paris as he recalled all the efforts by colleagues from the Pacific to try and save our island homes.

He adds that despite being a small nation, we showed how powerful we could be as a group in the international arena.

The Paris pact aims to curb global warming to less than 2C (3.6F) by the end of the century.

Nearly 200 countries took part in tense negotiations in the French capital over two weeks, striking the first deal to commit all nations to cut emissions.

The agreement – which is partly legally binding and partly voluntary – will come into being in 2020.

     

Author: 
PACNEWS