President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere stated that although Fiji is a small nation, it plays a significant role in regional leadership and contributes to regionalism and multilateral cooperation. During his address at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Ratu Wiliame emphasized that Fiji’s inaugural Foreign Policy White Paper revolves around three interconnected themes: sovereignty, security, and prosperity.
He highlighted that Fiji’s National Development Plan aims to empower its citizens through unity, focusing on economic resilience, people empowerment, and good governance. Ratu Wiliame reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to the principles outlined in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the vision of Pacific leaders for a prosperous region.
“As a large Ocean State, Fiji is a strong supporter of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” he said. He also mentioned that Fiji has signed the agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) and plans to ratify it before the upcoming third UN Oceans Conference in France.
The President underscored the necessity of a scientific understanding of the expansive ocean space to make informed decisions. He called for international collaboration with the UN to execute the outcomes from the Global Stock-take at COP28.
He stressed the urgent need to pursue significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal. He noted that phasing out unabated coal power and transitioning from fossil fuels in energy systems are essential steps toward achieving net zero targets by 2050.
Ratu Wiliame also pointed out that both adaptation and mitigation financing require substantial increases. He urged that the momentum from COP27 and COP28 regarding the Loss and Damage Fund and the Santiago Network should be expedited to safeguard vulnerable communities, especially in Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries. He appealed to development partners for their support in these vital efforts.