Belgium commits to support Fiji in the preparations of the COP23 climate conference
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo has decided to support COP23 Presidency Fiji, making 100.000 euro available. Later this year, the small island state will chair the 23rd climate conference in Bonn which will focus on the implementation of the Paris Agreement. This decision has been taken in the context of Belgium’s strategy to support the international climate policy and strengthen the cooperation with small island states.
During its presidency of the COP23, Fiji wants to maintain the political momentum of the Paris Agreement and make progress in elaborating the practical rules necessary to fully implement the Paris Agreement. Furthermore, the island state places greater emphasis on reinforcing the resilience to climate change and improving cooperation with the private sector and civil society to broaden support for climate policy.
Fiji will be the first small island state to be responsible for managing climate negotiations for over a year. In early 2016, Fiji itself experienced the impact of climate change when it was seriously hit by cyclone Winston.
The Fiji government asked Belgium earlier this year to co-operate in the run-up to COP23. Minister De Croo has decided to accept the offer and to contribute financially to the preparations. Alexander De Croo: "Climate negotiations are always an extremely complex process. I highly respect the commitment of a small island like Fiji to take on the presidency of the climate conference. Belgium wants to support the COP23 Presidency in order to reach a proper and fast implementation of the Paris Agreement. Climate action is essential if we want to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, protect our planet and eradicate extreme poverty.”
Cooperation with small island states
The commitment of our country is set within the wider context of initiatives recently taken by the Belgian authorities on international climate policy and as part of the strengthening of the cooperation with small island states. In March, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders initiated a workshop for small island states on the protection of oceans. Next week at the United Nations Ocean Conference in New York, Minister Reynders will advocate a stronger integration of climate and safety policy in the interests of better conflict prevention.
Alexander De Croo and Didier Reynders: "Last weekend, a number of European leaders have made clear how important the Paris Agreement is to them. Belgium’s decision to support the COP23 Presidency is a clear political commitment to the Paris Agreement and the importance of further climate action".
