Fiji (CU)_ During the 51st Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting held this week in Suva, Fiji, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland, praised the approval of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. The 2050 Strategy defines the region’s long-term goal and the necessary measures to accomplish it. It concentrates on the following seven major areas: political leadership and regionalism, resources and economic growth, climate change, ocean and natural environment, technology and connectivity, people-centered development, and peace and security.
While addressing the media along with the members of regional and international media in Suva, the Secretary-General stated, “I commend the Pacific Islands Forum, in particular for the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which is being brought forward this week. This overarching strategic document will allow us as partners to better-align our work to support our Pacific members and bolster regional efforts to address the multiple global challenges we all face.”
The Secretary-General highlighted that most of the flagship initiatives of the Commonwealth are already in compliance with the Strategy, including the Commonwealth Blue Charter for ocean action, the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub, and the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda, which aims to enhance intra-Commonwealth trade to $2 trillion by 2030. Throughout the week, the Secretary-General met and interacted with many of the Pacific nation leaders, including Kiribati. During the meeting, she emphasized the significance of the Pacific area to the Commonwealth and the excellent bond between the Commonwealth Secretariat and regional organizations.
The Secretary-General said, “We face overlapping, interlinked, accelerating crises… and as you know, the Pacific is particularly exposed to exogenous shocks. These shocks are more frequent and forceful because of climate change. The climate crisis is real. Here in the Pacific, we see it, feel it, and live it. As the IPCC has said, we are at Code Red for humanity, and the window for action is rapidly closing. The Commonwealth is totally committed to the Pacific, and to tackling these challenges together.”
