By MICHELLE AUAMOROMORO from Suva, Fiji
THE Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Chair and Prime Minister of Fiji, Frank Bainimarama told the Pacific leaders who had gathered in Suva for 51st PIF Leaders Meeting that they were responsible for the survival of their people despite not being responsible for the relentless abuse of plane earth.
He said this while delivering his remarks at the Blue Pacific High-level Panel on Ocean Leadership on Monday.
Mr. Bainimarama stated that less than 3% of the earth’s oceans were fully protected and he added that this was a clear indication that change was needed.
“My fellow Pacific leaders, every single one of us here regard the ocean as the beating heart of our island economies, our culture, and our way of life.
“This is the significant part of why we developed the 2050 strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
“Today, that beating heart risk giving out.
“We find ourselves on the cusp of catastrophic and cascading impacts of climate change on our oceans due to fossil fuel addicted nations.
“Rising seas affecting our low lying islands, ocean acidification devastating coral atolls and sea life, and the increasing frequency and strength of cyclones devastating our countries are just some of the adverse impacts linked to the ocean climate change.
“We (Pacific leaders) alone are responsible for ensuring the survival of our people; nobody will ever care for and advocate for our people like we will and that’s a fact.”
Mr. Bainimarama said that it was the responsibility of the Pacific leaders to be decisive in their ocean’s defense.
He added that being the steward of 1.3 million square kilometers of blue Pacific Ocean, Fiji recently announced a suit of new ambitious commitments at the United Nations (UN) ocean conference in Lisbon.
“We are working to bolster our long term economic resilience by investing in our planet from already banning deep seabed mining, to planning for 100% Fijian waters to be sustainably managed by 2030.
“From establishing the low seascape marine protected areas by 2024 to slashing our shipping sectors carbon emissions 40% by 2050.
“Critically, we are investing heavily in the blue economy, in which we intend to create 100,000 new jobs by 2050, which is more than a 10th of our current population.”
Mr. Bainimarama added that the Pacific leaders did not only have the responsibility, but also the capability to establish a blue Pacific wall or protected ocean.
“I urge all our Pacific countries to join together to ensure our regional water is 100% managed with 30% protected, our region should ultimately become the world’s largest supplier of sustainable tropical blue food.
“Our 2050 strategy is geared towards this and we need financing and partnerships to make this happen.
“I do not want our future generations to say that their foremothers and fathers, when given the opportunity did nothing to solve the global crisis we now face.
“We cannot only recognize our ocean’s wealth.
“Health, equity, knowledge and finance can be linked for transformative, transformative change.
“We have to show it, we have to create ocean based jobs, we have to show that the ocean is our best ally for climate solutions and we have to write the rules of sustainable development governance.
“I do not claim to have all the answers.
“I, simply as a Fijian Pacific Islander, want to share that sometimes we learn the most by doing the ocean emphasis.
“The commonality between every Pacific nation and its conservation demands are united effort, anything less would be grossly insufficient.
Mr. Bainimarama said the science had never been clearer (on climate change) and the urgency necessitated action.
“We are on course towards extinction, not only as a people, but as a species.
“We need to be the tide of change if we want our descendants to inherit a vibrant, healthy blue Pacific whenever available.”