Pacific delegations at the seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) are celebrating a significant achievement in Nairobi, as Fiji successfully garnered support for its resolution, “Accelerating Global Action to Promote the Climate Resilience of Coral Reefs.” This breakthrough occurred during the ongoing negotiations on Wednesday night and marks the first of 15 resolutions under discussion at the assembly.
This milestone reflects the global acknowledgment of Fiji’s leadership in ocean and climate action. The resolution calls for increased international collaboration and financial assistance to safeguard coral reef ecosystems from escalating threats, including climate change, pollution, and overfishing. The team from Fiji, directed by Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Dr. Sivendra Michael and Director of Environment Senimili Baleicakau, adeptly navigated the complex interplay of scientific, environmental, and geopolitical challenges to unite diverse nations around this crucial issue.
In a statement, Fiji expressed gratitude to all participating countries and partners for their constructive engagement and support, highlighting the importance of multilateral efforts in environmental diplomacy. “This early success underscores Fiji’s leadership and reaffirms our commitment to preserving the world’s coral reefs and the livelihoods relying on them,” the statement added.
Prior to this achievement, Fiji had articulated the resolution’s importance to the global community during the opening of the Seventh Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives. The message shared emphasized the urgency of addressing ocean health and protecting the Blue Pacific Continent, warning that projections predict a potential loss of over 90% of the world’s coral reefs by 2030 if current patterns persist.
Fiji’s communication underscored the necessity for rapid action driven by the alarming realities of the planet’s triple crisis—characterized by climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss—and expressed a commitment to effective multilateralism as the most potent remedy, supported by sound science and inclusive of all stakeholders, including Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
In collaboration with co-sponsors Palau, Kenya, Barbados, Colombia, and Australia, and backed by the Pacific Small Island Developing States, Fiji tabled the draft resolution focused on enhancing the resilience of coral reefs. This coalition is poised to yield considerable economic and social benefits by strengthening local economies dependent on coral reefs through tourism, sustainable fisheries, and food security, promoting greater support for collective environmental efforts.
UNEA-7 serves as a vital platform for over 6,000 participants from more than 180 countries, who are convening to discuss sustainable solutions to the pressing challenges posed by environmental degradation. The assembly meets every two years to define priorities for global environmental policies and foster international environmental law. While UNEA resolutions are not legally binding, they facilitate consensus among countries and have historically laid the groundwork for landmark international agreements.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is actively contributing to the efforts, amplifying the voices of the Pacific nations at UNEA-7.