Government of the Republic of Fiji
Government of the Republic of Fiji
09/24/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/23/2025 21:17
MINISTER BULITAVU CALLS FOR SCALED-UP FINANCE...
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Mosese Bulitavu issued a strong call for scaled-up financing and global solidarity to confront the growing threat of climate-induced loss and damage, during the Joint Call to Action: Scaling Up Finance and Partnerships for Loss and Damage event held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) in New York, yesterday (23.09.25).
Minister Bulitavu hailed the establishment of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) as a "historic turning point" in global climate action but warned that without adequate resources and innovative financing, the mechanism risks falling short of its promise.
"A global fund for addressing loss and damage without adequate resources runs the risk of exacerbating an already untenable scenario. We need to be moving decisively from millions to billions," Minister Bulitavu sstressed, calling for finance that is new and additional, beyond existing adaptation commitments.
Speaking from Fiji's frontline experience, Minister Bulitavu highlighted the stark realities faced by Pacific communities which includes dwindling fish catches, changing seasons, degraded reefs, and increasing hardships borne by subsistence farmers, women, and children in remote areas.
He urged the FRLD to adopt simplified access procedures, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and ensure that resources flow swiftly to the most vulnerable.
"Strengthening the national response systems of climate-vulnerable countries is not just an ethical imperative, it is a practical requirement," he said.
Minister Bulitavu further emphasised the importance of innovation in climate finance, including pre-arranged financing, contingent credit, social protection systems, and the leveraging of private sector and development bank contributions.
Drawing attention to Fiji's own commitments, he pointed to the Climate Change Act, which legally enshrines the country's climate emergency response and its focus on addressing loss and damage.
He also welcomed the recent opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) clarifying states' legal obligations to prevent and remediate climate harm.
"From the loss of land, culture, heritage, ecosystems, to the fundamental loss of seasonal trends and crop varieties - what we may potentially lose is wide-ranging. While we may classify reef or land loss as non-economic, the downstream implications are deeply economic," Minister Bulitavu noted.
Minister Bulitavu called the FRLD a multilateral solution rooted in solidarity and trust, urging the international community to invest in its vision and ensure it delivers for those most at risk.
Minister Bulitavu hailed the establishment of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) as a "historic turning point" in global climate action but warned that without adequate resources and innovative financing, the mechanism risks falling short of its promise.
"A global fund for addressing loss and damage without adequate resources runs the risk of exacerbating an already untenable scenario. We need to be moving decisively from millions to billions," Minister Bulitavu sstressed, calling for finance that is new and additional, beyond existing adaptation commitments.
Speaking from Fiji's frontline experience, Minister Bulitavu highlighted the stark realities faced by Pacific communities which includes dwindling fish catches, changing seasons, degraded reefs, and increasing hardships borne by subsistence farmers, women, and children in remote areas.
He urged the FRLD to adopt simplified access procedures, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and ensure that resources flow swiftly to the most vulnerable.
"Strengthening the national response systems of climate-vulnerable countries is not just an ethical imperative, it is a practical requirement," he said.
Minister Bulitavu further emphasised the importance of innovation in climate finance, including pre-arranged financing, contingent credit, social protection systems, and the leveraging of private sector and development bank contributions.
Drawing attention to Fiji's own commitments, he pointed to the Climate Change Act, which legally enshrines the country's climate emergency response and its focus on addressing loss and damage.
He also welcomed the recent opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) clarifying states' legal obligations to prevent and remediate climate harm.
"From the loss of land, culture, heritage, ecosystems, to the fundamental loss of seasonal trends and crop varieties - what we may potentially lose is wide-ranging. While we may classify reef or land loss as non-economic, the downstream implications are deeply economic," Minister Bulitavu noted.
Minister Bulitavu called the FRLD a multilateral solution rooted in solidarity and trust, urging the international community to invest in its vision and ensure it delivers for those most at risk.
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