Prime Minister Honourable Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama has arrived in New York for the 74th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA74) with the aim of calling on world leaders for concrete action plans against climate change.
The Prime Minister received a warm welcome at the Permanent Mission of Fiji to the United Nations in New York last night (US date-22/09/19).
Upon touching down at John F Kennedy Airport, Prime Minister Bainimarama wasted no time as he called for a meeting with his Fijian delegation to finalise Fiji’s robust contributions and statements to the high-level UNGA engagements.
Among other important discussions were Fiji’s contribution to the SDG Summit, the high-level dialogue on Financing for Development, trade and investment, sustainable development and the review of the Samoa Pathway.
With climate change an issue that is set to dominate the UNGA74, Prime Minister Bainimarama said Fiji is taking an outsized leadership role at this year’s UN Climate Summit and on a host of issues critical to the security and prosperity of our people.
“It’s time for action and not just speeches and Fiji is ready to meet all those great responsibilities,” he said.
Prime Minister Bainimarama will call on the world leaders to establish more robust and aggressive NDCs, which would contribute to halving the carbon emissions by 2030, reaching net-zero emission by 2050 and also keeping climate resilience and actions at the heart of their respective national agendas.
Today (US date-23/09/19), the Prime Minister is expected to address the high-level meeting on Universal Health Coverage, and also attend the opening of the UNSG’s Climate Summit. He will later have a bilateral meeting with the President of the General Assembly and also meet the Fijian youths who are part of the UN Youth Climate Summit.
Prime Minister Bainimarama will also officiate at the launch of the Community Relocation Trust Fund followed by the WWF Leader for Nature and People’s Forum.