The need for showing climate action is relevant here and now - Koya

With the upcoming COP23 which will be presided over by Fiji in Germany, the need for a collective focus on showcasing climate action initiatives and innovation is all the more relevant here and now.

This was highlighted by Minister for Industry, Tourism and Trade Faiyaz Koya while officiating the opening of the Science, Technology and Resources (STAR) Network Conference 2017 today in Nadi.

Koya adds that the STAR Conference is an annual conference of geoscientists and related sciences and attendees will be privy to submitted papers on Geo‑resources of the Pacific Region, Cyclones and Coastal Hazards, Volcanic Hazards in the Pacific, Deep‑sea Minerals, Hydrogeology and Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing.

He says that as such, this will reflect also on the linkage between the geo‑sciences and the ocean, islands and natural resources.

Moreover, Koya stressed that the underlying principle of the STAR Conference is ultimately to engineer strategies to mitigate the unrelenting and imminent threats of climate change from the perception of Geoscientists.

Koya also highlighted that the state of health of the oceans and climate change are two major challenges facing the world at the moment, whereby the causes are similar for both the Oceans and Climate Change.

He has urged those present at the conference to take these into account in all their deliberations.

Koya adds that these forums play a vital role in mapping out local and regional adaptation programs to further our collective struggles against the unforgiving effects of climate change.

The four day Science, Technology and Resources (STAR) Network Conference will conclude this Thursday.