Fiji has long been committed to international climate initiatives, according to Attorney-General Graham Leung. Speaking at a workshop hosted by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Nadi, Leung highlighted that Fiji has integrated the Paris Agreement into its national legislation through the Climate Change Act 2021, with implementations and related regulations expected soon.
Leung reflected on the United Nations General Assembly’s recognition in 1988 of the need to manage human activities that influence global climate, which led to the creation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992. Fiji was among the first nations to sign the UNFCCC in 1993, affirming its commitment to global efforts aimed at stabilizing greenhouse gas levels and protecting ecosystems and sustainable development.
In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was established, and Fiji signed it on September 17, 1998, the day it was ratified. This protocol built upon the UNFCCC by mandating industrialized countries to cut their emissions, underscoring the principle of “common but differentiated responsibility,” which calls for a more significant contribution from developed nations in combating climate change.
Fiji also made history in 2015 by being the first country to sign the Paris Agreement, officially ratifying it on April 22, 2016, which reinforced its role in global climate leadership. The Paris Agreement emphasizes the importance of all countries reducing emissions and enhancing resilience against the impacts of climate change.
The Climate Change Act provides a robust framework for managing climate change responses, outlines the governance of national efforts, and establishes a system for measuring, reporting, and verifying greenhouse gas emissions.