PM opens High Level Talanoa session which addresses the issue of climate change

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has officially opened the High Level Talanoa at the Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, California.

The High Level Talanoa is an official affiliated event for the Global Climate Action Summit, which ends today.

The concept of Talanoa is to use storytelling as way to engage participants from different fields of life to share ideas, innovations and best practices in addressing climate change that political leaders can then use at the national level.

“While you work to meet the challenge of #climatechange, I beg on you, don’t forget nature. Because today, the destruction of nature accounts for more global emissions than all the cars and trucks in the world.” - Harrison Ford at #GCAS0218 @ConservationOrg pic.twitter.com/Y4en9MOSbN

— UN Climate Change (@UNFCCC) September 13, 2018

During the session, a total of 20 participants were given the opportunity to share their stories on how they are addressing the issue of climate change and how they can contribute to ensure zero emissions in the future.

Bainimarama shared the story of Vio Village near Lautoka, where the villagers now have access to solar‑powered electricity, which was made possible through a partnership with the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

#COP23 President Frank Bainimarama on the proposals for #ClimateAction gathered during the many #Talanoa4Ambition events this year: "Let us go forth and implement the ideas that we have gathered, on behalf of the 7.5 billion people who call this planet home." #GCAS2018 pic.twitter.com/7DixZwU4qP

— UN Climate Change (@UNFCCC) September 12, 2018

Among the attendees present were the Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Motley, the Governor of California Jerry Brown and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa.

Governor Brown mentioned in his talanoa that he has signed a bill that would require the state of California to become carbon‑neutral by 2045.

Congratulations to California for legally committing to 100% electricity from #renewable energy and to a carbon neutral economy by 2045 https://t.co/snDmNqBakM A step fully in line with the #ParisAgreement goals #GCAS2018 #ClimateAction pic.twitter.com/1xLvXnakGP

— Patricia Espinosa C. (@PEspinosaC) September 11, 2018

The 20 speakers who shared their talanoa gave real‑life stories and actions, best practices which were useful in helping many adopt these practices and leapfrog ahead in the area of climate action and ambition.