Fiji has called for strengthened international collaboration to address significant global issues such as climate change, conflict, and inequality. During Fiji’s address at the 79th United Nations General Assembly, President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere emphasized that small island developing states are facing the forefront of climate change and rising sea levels.
He remarked on the ongoing struggles these nations experience due to climate-induced disasters, which have devastating effects on ecosystems and vulnerable communities. President Katonivere urged the global community to seek courageous leaders capable of mobilizing political will and resources to bridge divides and find solutions that are beneficial to humanity.
“We have two choices before us – to give up and go home or to stay the course, renew, redouble our efforts, rethink and reform together,” he stated, underlining that the choices made now would define their legacy, particularly for future generations.
He further stressed the necessity of strong international cooperation, informed diplomacy, and adherence to the principles of the United Nations, calling them indispensable to global progress. President Katonivere reiterated the importance of going back to the core purposes of the UN Charter, emphasizing the need to invest in human empowerment and the protection of human rights.
As the global community gears up for the Climate COP in Baku, Azerbaijan, he urged countries to collaborate with the UN to implement the results from the global stock take conducted at COP28. He highlighted the urgency of fostering a culture of peace, recalling the Pacific’s experiences with the devastating effects of war.
“The Blue Pacific Continent understands the value of peace, having endured the horrors of its absence,” he stated, referencing the historical impacts of the world wars and nuclear testing in the region. He concluded that the Pacific’s contribution to promoting peace is vital for global stability.