COP23

Pacific leaders agree climate change discussions no longer scientific but ethical

Pacific Community Director General Dr. Colin Tukuitonga says climate change is beyond economic survival and it is now a moral issue world leaders must take a stand on.

He says Pope Francis reassured Pacific leaders of his support when they met him in Rome before the COP 23 talks in Bonn.

"Mostly people now are saying that clearly climate change is not a scientific discussion anymore it's actually a moral ethical one."

SPREP head calls for more ambition at COP23

The director general of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Kosi Latu said, so far, there had been little discussion on the substantive matters.

He said, for example, countries were getting bogged down in legal matter or discussing templates for the reporting on their national commitments to climate change.

Mr Latu said this was not good enough.

Fiji's total GDP needed for climate change plan - study

The World Bank and the Fiji government released the study at the COP23 climate change talks in Bonn which are presided by Fiji.

A lead economist with the World Bank Stephane Hallegatte said the Climate Vulnerability Assessment used new methods to assess risk and to develop adaptation plans.

He said the study detailed a plan to build climate change resilience for Fiji which has been costed.

UN calls for greener investors at COP23

The sector was being encouraged to move away from carbon intensive investment.

The UN said finance for climate projects was flowing at a greater pace, with vibrant markets now for renewable energy, electric vehicles, green buildings and climate-smart agriculture.

The World Bank said funding needed to flow so people everywhere could benefit from low-carbon and climate resilient investments.

It hopes the UN can attract public, private, and philanthropic investors.

Pacific Island leaders share climate concerns at COP23

They hope to play a key role in discussions on how to implement the 2015 Paris agreement on cutting carbon emissions and helping to prevent global warming.

Fiji tells COP23 forests need more funding

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was speaking at the COP23 Climate Conference in Bonn, Germany.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said while progress had been made in protecting ecosystems to enhance resilience to climate change, real incentives were needed to attract more investment in delivering nature based solutions.

Some countries and corporations are taking action to cut emissions from forest use and establish sustainable forestry management.

New Zealand wants to take lead on climate change, minister to tell conference

Shaw is already working on allowing Pacific people to migrate to New Zealand if climate change forces them to flee their homes.
 
Shaw and Pacific Peoples Minister Aupito William Sio are attending the COP23 climate change meeting in Bonn, Germany, and also heading to Rome, Italy, for a meeting between the Pacific Island Forum leaders and Pope Francis.
 
COP23 lead by Fiji, and focus on the threat rising seas pose to low-lying nations such as Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Fiji and Vanuatu.
 

New law and climate change toolkit unveiled at COP23

The Law and Climate Change Toolkit is aimed at government policy makers responsible for developing laws that help implement the Paris Agreement.

Paris climate accord: Syria 'to sign up', isolating US

The Paris deal unites the world's nations in tackling climate change.

Syria and Nicaragua were the only nations outside the deal when it was agreed in 2015. Nicaragua signed in October.

In June the US said it would withdraw, but the rules of the agreement state that this cannot be done until 2020.

Meanwhile, French officials said US President Donald Trump had not been invited to December's climate summit in Paris.

Large team from Fiji heads off to COP23

Fiji's prime minister Frank Bainimarama is presiding over the 11 day long talks, known as COP 23, which starts next week.

The Fijian government said it was ensuring Fiji's "Bula" spirit is stamped on the occasion by providing cultural shows, a Fijian drua or sailing canoe in the main foyer and talanoa-style negotations.

Fiji, along with most Pacific island countries, wants to see a one-point-five-degree limit on global temperature rise above pre industrial levels.