Team Fiji has made significant strides at the Seventh United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) by successfully achieving consensus on their resolution titled “Accelerating Global Action to Promote the Climate Resilience of Coral Reefs.” This resolution is the first of 17 under discussion to be approved by Member States, showcasing the global acknowledgment of Fiji’s leadership in ocean and climate initiatives.
Negotiations have been rigorous and detailed, with delegates working tirelessly throughout the past week. Fiji’s technical team, led by the Permanent Secretary for Environment and the Director of Environment, skillfully navigated a range of intricate scientific, environmental, and geopolitical challenges to secure the agreement. The final round of negotiations wrapped up at 1 a.m., with delegates reaching a consensus on the complete text.
As UNEA-7 continues, there are just two days left for further discussions on the remaining resolutions, with Fiji expressing gratitude to all participating nations and partners for their collaborative spirit and support. This achievement highlights Fiji’s role as a leader in multilateral environmental diplomacy and reinforces its dedication to safeguarding the world’s coral reefs and the communities reliant on them.
Additionally, Fiji has advocated for the establishment of a One Ocean Finance Facility, emphasizing that the current financial systems are “fragmented and under-resourced” and insufficient to protect the oceans effectively. During the High-Level Ministerial on One Ocean Finance at UNEA-7, Minister for Environment and Climate Change Mosese Bulitavu stated that the ocean economy is being severely strained while receiving less than one percent of global climate finance.
The Minister pointed out, “A global finance system that fails the ocean fails Small Island Developing States,” highlighting the vital role the ocean plays in climate stability, food security, and global prosperity, despite being critically underfunded. Fiji has called on countries and partners to support a unified One Ocean Finance Facility designed to mobilize substantial capital and direct it toward the most vulnerable communities and ecosystems.
To further this initiative, the Minister outlined three key priorities: ensuring direct access for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and coastal Least Developed Countries (LDCs); financing the complete life cycle of ocean action, from marine spatial planning to blue carbon protection; and developing a clear global roadmap leading up to UNOC4 that includes shared principles and measurable targets.
Fiji’s ongoing advancement via its Blue Economy Framework underscores the fact that while national ambitions are essential, they cannot fill the existing global finance void. “We are not short of commitments. We are short of capital,” Bulitavu stressed, highlighting that the proposed One Ocean Finance Facility represents a crucial opportunity to adequately fund ocean conservation initiatives at the scale necessary for their success.
Fiji’s efforts at UNEA-7 reflect a hopeful commitment to not only addressing climate concerns but also enhancing global financing mechanisms for ocean health, ultimately fostering a more sustainable and resilient future for all.
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