British High Commissioner to Fiji Dr Brian Jones believes a child born in 2020 will suffer twice as many wildfires, three times as many crop failures and seven times more heatwaves than a child born in 1960.
While visiting Kioa Island in Cakaudrove, Vanua Levu on Monday upon the invitation of the Kioa Island Community Organisation, 350 Pacific, Pacific Conference of Churches, among other CSOs for the Kioa Climate Emergency Declaration, Dr Jones said climate change affected the poorest countries and poorest people in the world.
Dr Jones thanked the Kioa community for being excellent examples of resilience and encouraged the participants of the three-day event to continue amplifying the Pacific’s moral authority on climate change at COP27 and beyond.
“I cannot overstate my personal appreciation for the work of Fiji and other Pacific Island countries,” he said.
“Over the years we have had a number of experiences in Fiji on how storms are getting violent, rainfall more unpredictable, temperatures uncertain and the ocean (our Blue Pacific) which we call home getting unfamiliar to us.
“Among all this, we are now faced with the reality of climate-induced disasters, which is no different to having to leave your countries and towns during a war.”
He labelled this war as personal, unlawful and illegal.
“With Fiji and the Pacific’s hard work and strong voices, we achieved a historical Glasgow Climate Pact at COP26.”
He added that “for the first time under the UK presidency, we have made loss and damage an official topic of discussion” and by working in close partnership with Egyptian counterparts, we are happy to say that loss and damage are on the agenda at COP27.
“I’ve been privileged to spend this last three years around the Pacific where I’ve met people on the shores of islands, from Isabelle and Malaita Provinces in Solomon Islands, to the Mamanuca Islands here in Fiji and I’ve heard stories of their grief and uncertainty.”
