FIJI TO WORK WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN ITS EFFORTS TO SUPPORT CLIMATE PRIORITIES IN THE PACIFIC

Fiji has shown interest in supporting the U.S Government to better leverage the private sector in order to de-risk and deliver the significant investment needed to meaningfully deliver our climate priorities in the Pacific.

This was highlighted by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama while meeting the United States Secretary of State, Mr Antony Blinken, along the margins of COP26 today.

"From placing the Pacific onto a 100 per cent renewable energy path to building resilience in our infrastructure, to supporting Fiji’s upcoming Blue Bond at affordable rates to deepen our blue economy. I would be happy to set up a high-level working group to make this happen. The potential for deepening our partnership is endless."

Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said Fijians and Americans share a commitment to democracy, peace and security.

"We welcome greater US engagement in the region. This is our shared crisis-sea-level rise, stronger storms and erratic weather threaten Fiji as they do Miami, New Orleans, New York and the American heartland,” said Prime Minister Bainimarama.

"The USA is a Pacific power. Guam and American Samoa are our Pacific family members. Their challenges are our challenge and we advocate for the people who inhabit the islands of the USA in the Pacific, as we advocate for every Pacific Islander."

The Prime Minister reiterated that we will do whatever it takes to fight for 1.5, for the urgent delivery of $100 billion in climate finance and for the finalisation of Article 6.

"We will say what needs to be said and we will say it to whoever needs to hear it."

"We know you are putting in the work on securing climate finance from other developed countries. We welcome the USA’s pledge to double its climate finance commitment. But we’re still billions short of where we need to be. This COP must get us over the line."