Frank Bainimarama Photo: RNZ / Koroi Hawkins
The outgoing COP23 president and Fiji prime minister Frank Bainimarama has called for a renewed effort on the part of world leaders to accelerate their response to climate change.
Describing the process as being at a "critical stage", Mr Bainimarama says a much greater degree of political will is necessary to confront the magnitude of climate threat.
He said it is the great tragedy of our times that far too many people of power and influence are ignoring the science and evidence all around.
The prime minister accused nations of putting short-term economic and political interests before collective long-term interests.
Mr Bainimarama was addressing a major gathering in London as part of the Talanoa Dialogue that Fiji has promoted under its COP Presidency to raise action and ambition in the climate struggle.
In his speech Mr Bainimarama also called for ambitious targets to combat climate action that Fiji has promoted to continue under the COP24 Presidency of Poland.
