Small Island Developing States (SIDs), including Fiji, face significant challenges in addressing the impacts of climate change, despite their minimal contribution of less than 1 percent to global greenhouse gas emissions. This comment was made by Viliame Gavoka, the Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, during the 3rd Voice of the Global South Summit, which was broadcast live from the CAAF conference room in Namaka, Nadi, last Friday.
The summit reinforced Fiji’s commitment to tackling the pressing issues faced by the Global South. Gavoka expressed appreciation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for organizing the summit and highlighted India’s active role in amplifying the Global South’s voices on the international platform.
“The Global South is no longer a passive participant on the world stage,” Gavoka stated, emphasizing their active efforts to reshape their narrative in pursuit of an equitable global order.
He noted that the summit’s theme, “An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future,” aligns with their shared objective of addressing current challenges. The term Global South refers to countries generally considered developing or underdeveloped, many of which are located in the Southern Hemisphere across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Gavoka recognized India’s prominent role as an advocate for these nations within the Global South and stressed the importance of international collaborations and initiatives, such as the International Solar Alliance and the Global Biofuel Alliance, to promote effective energy transitions and sustainable development in the region.