BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
New Zealand and Solomon Islands’ climate priorities resonate with each other.
First Secretary at the New Zealand High Commission, Marnie Gilberts, said this at the Climate Change dialogue held at the National Museum Auditorium on Tuesday this week.
She told participants that climate change is recognised as one of the defining challenges of this time.
She said that New Zealand also recognise that the Pacific has long been a global leader in climate advocacy.
She adds that the Pacific countries were among the first to highlight the reality of loss and damage, the urgency of adaptation, and the need to protect the rights and livelihoods of people on the front lines of climate impacts.
“And this leadership has shaped and continues to shape international climate debates. The recent example of the Pacific-led initiative that resulted in the International Court of Justice advisory opinion on climate change and human rights,” she said.
She said that New Zealand, alongside many others, are really proud to support that process and to see Pacific leadership recognised internationally.
“That opinion reinforces the importance of international law and the rules-based system in responding to climate change,” Ms Gilberts said.
She said that New Zealand’s climate priorities across its international engagement focus on three broad areas.
“The first one is transitioning at home, back home in New Zealand. This means reducing emissions while also building a resilient and sustainable economy. We have to get it right at home first. Second is supporting resilience across the Pacific, where climate impacts are already significant. And the third is strengthening the international climate system, so that global cooperation remains effective and delivers real action,” she said.
She said that these three priorities guide New Zealand’s approach to climate change negotiations, including annual UN climate conferences and other work throughout the year.
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