Fighting Climate Change A Defining Factor For Youths
“You were born into a
world in which storms batter our shores with intensity that, just a few decades
ago, would have been unimaginable. You were born into a world in which entire
ecosystems, from Pacific reefs to Amazonian rainforests, may not last beyond
your own time on this planet.”
These words silenced more than 200 youths from across Fiji as Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama addressed them while opening the first ever National Youth Climate Action Summit at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva on Tuesday.
“To me, your age doesn’t
discredit you –– in fact, the opposite is true. For you, saving our climate
isn’t some passing phase or extra-curricular activity –– it is the defining
cause of your generation.
Because you know that the stakes couldn’t be higher: You are the generation
that, due to no fault of your own, has inherited a climate emergency,” Mr
Bainimarama said.
Mr Bainimarama said youths of
today are born into a world in which words and phrases like “climate refugees” and “village relocation” –– concepts that
were unheard of when at their age –– are tragically common points of
discussion in Summits like this one.
“But where I find great
frustration in my generation, I find great hope in yours.”
“To me, your age doesn’t
discredit you –– in fact, the opposite is true. For you, saving our climate
isn’t some passing phase or extra-curricular activity –– it is the defining
cause of your generation,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“Act Later”, the mantra of politicians for far too long, is no
longer being tolerated –– especially among the world’s young people. You know
that we must act now- for every
moment of inaction is a moment the world can’t get back.”
Mr
Bainimarama reminded youths that Fiji is committed to achieving net-zero carbon
emissions by 2050 and that we are not a major emitter.
“Fiji
contributes around point zero, zero six percent of total greenhouse gas emissions.
But that does not make us too small to make a difference. No nation is. And we
have a ground-breaking climate change Bill in the consultation process that
will keep us accountable to our net-zero ambition.”
I
urge you to read that Bill, it is a development defining piece of legislation.
And we are also doing the hard work of adapting to climate impacts, investing
in resilient infrastructure, relocating vulnerable communities, and harnessing
nature to build powerful buffers between Fijians and the rising seas.
He
added that by acting now the nation is setting an example we hope the entire
world will follow.
“And
by acting now, each of you – the young hearts and minds in this room – will
drive action in your homes and classrooms, in your communities, in all of Fiji,
in the Pacific region, and the world over.”
Mr
Bainimarama told the youths their passion is precisely what the world needs and
their activism and ideas will be what finds solutions to the problems that
those before them have created.
He
added the two-day summit is a vital opportunity for young Fijians to set an
example for the world, showing they are not just vulnerable bystanders or
helpless onlookers.
“When
it comes to protecting our planet, you are agents of real change.
As you work tirelessly to advance the global climate action agenda, and
as you demand that Leaders act now, I –– and the world –– will be watching,” Mr
Bainimarama said.
According
to the United Nations World Youth Report: Youth and the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development today there are 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24 years, accounting
for 16 per cent of the global population.
The report states the active engagement of youth
in sustainable development efforts is central to achieving sustainable,
inclusive and stable societies by the target date, and to averting the worst
threats and challenges to sustainable development, including the impacts of
climate change, unemployment, poverty, gender inequality, conflict, and
migration.
The
size of the youth population matters greatly in the context of sustainable
development. The age structure of a population and the relative size of the
youth cohort are important because they serve as determining factors in the
growth of the labour force and pressures on the economy in terms of job
creation.