President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere emphasized that although Fiji is a small nation, it significantly influences regional leadership and contributes meaningfully to regionalism and multilateral cooperation. Speaking at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, he underscored that Fiji’s inaugural Foreign Policy White Paper is centered around three interconnected themes: sovereignty, security, and prosperity.
Ratu Wiliame elaborated on Fiji’s National Development Plan, which aims to empower the populace through unity, focusing on economic resilience, people empowerment, and robust governance. He reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to the principles outlined in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the Pacific leaders’ vision for a thriving Blue Pacific.
As a significant oceanic nation, Fiji strongly advocates for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and is preparing to ratify the agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) ahead of the upcoming third UN Oceans Conference in France. He reiterated the necessity of comprehending the vast ocean spaces guided by scientific data to make informed, risk-aware decisions.
The President called for enhanced global collaboration with the UN to implement the results derived from the Global Stock-take at COP28. He stressed the need for substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions aligned with the 1.5 degrees Celsius target and urged for the cessation of unabated coal power, along with a shift from fossil fuels in energy systems, to achieve net-zero targets by 2050.
Ratu Wiliame highlighted the urgent requirement for increased funding for both adaptation and mitigation efforts. He insisted on accelerating the momentum from COP27 and COP28 concerning the Loss and Damage Fund and the Santiago Network to safeguard vulnerable communities, particularly in Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries.
He concluded by calling on development partners to bolster Fiji’s initiatives in these critical areas.