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Fiji’s Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama is headed for the Copenhagen climate change summit with a state delegation saying climate change is a serious concern for Fiji.
Bainimarama, who left Fiji at the weekend on board Air Pacific’s inaugural flight to Hong Kong, is accompanied by officials from the Department of Environment.
He said Fiji would be affected by rising sea levels which could lead to social, economic and political problems.
"Climate change is a real issue for Fiji and we should start preparing for the changes it will bring," Bainimarama said.
"The rise in sea levels will affect low lying areas, not only in the Pacific but specifically in Fiji as well and this will cause migration as people will be displaced and this can also cause social and economic problems. As I have mentioned before, rise in sea level will affect low lying islands and atolls like Kiribati and Tuvalu and also in Fiji," he added.
"This is very serious because this can affect plants and animals and Fiji and other Pacific island countries should seek help from SOPAC or JICA. Food security is a very serious issue for Fiji and other Pacific island countries because unusually wet or dry conditions can affect our food supply," said Bainimarama.
