The Speaker of the Fijian Parliament, Filimone Jitoko joined over 100 parliamentary leaders from around the world at the Sixth World Conference of Speakers held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva last week.
Speaking during a plenary on climate change, Mr Jitoko reflected on the theme, saying it “speaks powerfully to our current moment.”
“As legislators and representatives of the people, we are confronted with converging global crises—climate emergencies, humanitarian disasters, deepening political divides, and escalating threats to democratic norms,” he said.
“In the midst of this turbulence, one truth stands firm: no nation, no community, and no parliament can tackle these challenges alone.”
Mr Jitoko stressed that international cooperation was not a luxury, but a necessity, describing multilateralism and parliamentary solidarity as “strategic instruments for driving meaningful progress.”
He also took the opportunity to spotlight the unique challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as Fiji.
“As a small island developing state in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, Fiji knows adversity intimately,” he said.
“We stand on the frontlines of climate change, facing rising sea levels, warming oceans, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events.”
“Despite the challenges of political reform, economic recovery, and the lasting effects of a global pandemic, our people remain resilient and rooted in the values of democracy.”
