THE Pacific’s push to secure recognition of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion on climate change in the final negotiation text has failed following objections from several countries.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya told Parliament on Wednesday that the reference, pursued by Pacific students and governments, was removed from the final outcome of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 17) in Yerevan, Armenia, last month.
“A reference to the International Court of Justice advisory opinion on climate change, which exists because Pacific students and governments pursued it, was removed after objections from a few parties,” she said.
Ms Tabuya said Fiji acknowledged positive outcomes from the negotiations but was disappointed that several Pacific priorities were missing from the official text.
“Fiji said so plainly at the closing plenary that there were great outcomes in Yerevan, but we leave with realities that are not reflected in the official text.”
She said the setback should not discourage Pacific nations, describing the outstanding issues as priorities for continued negotiations over the next two years.
“These are not reasons for despair, of course. They are work for the next two years to the next COP on biodiversity.”
On Fiji’s domestic commitments, Ms Tabuya said Cabinet endorsed the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2026-2030 in April.
She said Fiji also launched its National Action Plan for Coral Reef Conservation 2026-2031 during pre-COP last month, outlining 82 actions aimed at conserving 30 per cent of the country’s land and sea by 2030.
