Caption: Fiji’s Ambassador to Japan, H.E Mr Isikeli Mataitoga delivering a lecture on ‘Climate Change and its Impact on Fiji’ at the United Nations University (UNU) Headquarters in Tokyo. PHOTO BY- UNU
Fiji’s Ambassador to Japan, H.E Mr Isikeli Mataitoga earlier this month delivered a lecture on ‘Climate Change and its Impact on Fiji’ at the United Nations University (UNU) Headquarters in Tokyo.
The lecture was part of UNU’s Ambassador Lecture Series, a forum that provides an opportunity for UNU students and interns to directly engage with government officials on political, economic, and social issues.
Ambassador Mataitoga highlighted the adverse effects and risks of climate change and rising sea level facing Fiji and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
He said that addressing the problems related to climate change at domestic and international level was a priority for the Fijian Government.
Mr Mataitoga said the impacts of climate change and sea level rise present significant risks to the sustainable development of SIDS, even threatening the very existence of some small islands.
“Like many SIDS, Fiji’s capacity to respond to climate change is often constrained by its limited economic, human and technological resources,” Ambassador Mataitoga said.
The Ambassador pointed out that securing funding for climate change adaptation and mitigation measures is a great challenge to many SIDS.
Ambassador Mataitoga elaborated on the cooperation between Fiji and other SIDS in the region, such as Kiribati and Tuvalu, in addressing climate change.
“South-South cooperation is the key to solving the problem of climate change. There is a need for more cooperation and partnerships between developing countries.”
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