Fiji is committed to international climate initiatives, stated Attorney-General Graham Leung during a workshop at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) held in Nadi. Leung highlighted that the country has integrated the Paris Agreement into its national legislation through the Climate Change Act of 2021, which will soon be enacted along with the associated regulations.
He reflected on the historical context, noting that in 1988, the United Nations General Assembly recognized the importance of regulating human activities that impact climate, leading 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, showing its commitment to global efforts aimed at stabilizing greenhouse gas levels and protecting ecosystems, food security, and sustainable development.
Leung also mentioned that Fiji signed the Kyoto Protocol on September 17, 1998, the day it was ratified, which held industrialized countries accountable for reducing emissions under the concept of “common but differentiated responsibility.” In 2015, Fiji became the first nation to formally sign the Paris Agreement, ratifying it on April 22, 2016, which reinforced its role in international climate action.
The Paris Agreement emphasizes the necessity for all nations to lessen emissions and enhance resilience to climate change. The Climate Change Act aims to provide a thorough response to climate challenges, oversee the nation’s climate actions, and establish a framework for measuring, reporting, and verifying greenhouse gas emissions.