Closing of the Joint meeting on climate change and disaster risk management

11 July 2013, Nadi, Fiji - Pacific Island Countries are not only advocates but practitioners of disaster and climate change risk adaptation and mitigation.

Fiji's Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Rural Development and National Disaster, Inia Seruiratu said this during his closing remarks at the conclusion of the Joint meeting of the 2013 Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management and Pacific Climate Change Roundtable today.

Inia Seruiratu (Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Rural Development and National Disaster, Fiji)

"The classic showcase of Choiseul province in the Solomon Islands and SPREP's Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change, PACC projects in the Rewa delta in Fiji are evidence of our collective collaboration with our partners to get the balance right between adaptation and mitigation for climate change and disaster risks," Seruiratu said.

He added that Pacific island countries share common approaches in trying to adapt and mitigate between aspects of climate change and disaster risk management.

"Therefore these commonalties must be well discussed at the community, national and regional levels so that a practical, gender-sensitive and pragmatic approach is agreed upon by all key stakeholders to avoid duplication and that efficiencies can be generated through our joint efforts," he said.

However, he pointed out that to achieve results for the region a collective regional approach and integration is imperative to achieve the desired outcome.