Fiji Prime Minister invokes urgent investment in coral reefs for climate resilience

Source from Aquarium of The Pacific

Glasgow, Scotland- Coral reefs are the most biologically diverse systems in the ocean. There are over half a billion people who derive food and income from these valuable ecosystems across 100 coral reef nations.

According to the 2020 Status of Coral Reefs of the World report, it showed that 14 per cent of the world’s reefs have disappeared since 2009 due to climate change and a range of local impacts.

Fiji Prime Minister Josaia V. Bainimarama called for urgent investment in coral reef conservation as part of delivering positive ocean-climate solutions in support of people and nature.

Fiji Prime Minister with Pauli Merriman at the CRRI side event at COP26.

Prime Minister Bainimarama said Fiji has fought at these negotiations to engrain the ocean pathway into the processes of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change during the UN Climate Change Conference.

He added they must decide where that pathway leads for the sake of the reeds, ocean and the general habitability of the planet, so they must cut carbon emissions.

“As that happens, we have to do the work of rebuilding the resilience of our reefs,” Prime Minister Bainimarama said.

Prime Minister Bainimarama stated they have seen that good reef management works. If they manage them properly and responsibly, and do what needs to be done to curb carbon emissions, these ecosystems can thrive.

Coral Reef Rescue Initiative Lead Carol Phua said they need to invest in bolstering the resilience of coral reefs with the strongest regeneration capacity to help secure the food, livelihoods and wellbeing of millions of people.

“We need to join up the climate and ocean finance agendas and drive significant investments in nature-based solutions that can bring benefits to people and nature,” Phua said.

The Coral Reef Rescue Initiative, a global partnership of conservation and development organizations including Blue Ventures, CARE International, Rare, University of Queensland, Vulcan Inc., WCS, and WWF, is working with governments and communities in developing national to local strategies for dealing with environmental stresses, including climate change.

The partners aim to improve management of climate-resilient coral reefs with strengthening community resilience and livelihood opportunities to help them build their economic capacity in facing a rapidly changing climate.

One of the funding partners of this initiative is Global Environmental Facility (GEF).

GEF International Waters Senior Environmental Specialist Christian Severin said GEF recognizes that safeguarding the ocean and coastal ecosystems and the shared resources within them demands that they delpy a Ridge to Reef approach.

Severin said this investment demonstrates scalable nature-based solutions to protect globally significant climate resilient coral reefs.

“Gender mainstreaming and the engagement of the broader CSO community will be critical for ensuring long-term blue economies that directly benefit communities who rely on healthy, thriving reefs,” she added.

Meanwhile, Strategies Partnerships Lead at Care International Karl Deering said it is necessary to put human rights and good governance at the centre of the climate agenda.

Deering said improved governance will empower the most vulnerable populations, such as youth and women, by allowing them to implement, monitor, and scale up coral reef initiatives.

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