We must not stand idly and watch the world’s most vulnerable countries suffer - PM

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says the Pacific nations owe it to its people and to humanity as a whole to raise voices more to demand that major emitters and wealthy countries step up their climate actions and commitments.

He says without this, we will lose our homes, our way of life, our well-being and our livelihoods.

Bainimarama highlighted this at the Kainaki II to COP 26 Virtual Pacific Islands Forum High-Level Round-table on Urgent Climate Change Action.

The Prime Minister says he refuses to let Fijians and their Pacific Island sisters and brothers be some sacrificial canary for coal-burning countries and high-emitting companies.

Bainimarama says we must not stand idly and watch the world’s most vulnerable countries suffer, only to warn other wealthier nations that their own fate will soon follow.

He says this is not just Fiji’s climate emergency, it is the world’s emergency.

Bainimarama says the high-emission countries simply have to face facts that we all depend on each other and climate complacency by one will harm all others.