Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has today acknowledged California Governor, Jerry Brown as the driving force behind the creation of the Under2 Coalition during his address at the Under2 Coalition Signing ceremony with Governor Brown.
Governor Brown has also been appointed as Special Envoy for States and Regions for the COP23.
Bainimarama says that in this role, he will lean on Governor Brown to continue the great leadership he has demonstrated time and time again, and to mobilise a strong contingent of like‑minded leaders from around the world ‑ to show the world that they mean business.
The Prime Minister says that today, Fiji becomes the first Small Island Developing Nation to endorse Under2 Coalition of over 170 sub-national governments from around the world.
He says that the Grand Coalition is bigger than any one meeting or event and is a movement that is built to last and is a critical evolution of the international climate process.
Bainimarama has committed to the State of California and the US that as incoming COP President, he will do everything in his power to ensure that the Grand Coalition receives the attention it deserves throughout Fiji's Presidency.
He reiterated that Fiji's vision is for a Presidency that is transparent and inclusive of all, advances the Paris Agreement and accelerates climate action for all vulnerable societies, drawing on Fiji’s own experiences as a Small Island Developing State in the Pacific.
Bainimarama adds that a central pillar to this vision is to forge a Grand Coalition to accelerate climate action before 2020 and beyond between civil society, the scientific community, the private sector and all levels of government, including cities and regions.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations