She said the Paris Agreement along with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction were all “landmark agreements that must be implemented together”.

“Extreme weather events show in graphic detail the risk we all face if action, ambition and commitment are not all raised to meet the challenge of climate change,” the Deputy Secretary-General said.

“Small islands are among the first and worst affected by the climate peril. Their vulnerability to recurrent, more frequent and more intense severe weather events has continued to mount. To mention just the most recent examples, Hurricanes Irma and Maria have brought horrific personal and economic misery to people in the Caribbean, Central America and United States.

“In short, we need all hands on deck and far better coherence between all sectors of society at all levels, internationally, nationally and at the local level. We can build a better world for all: a world of peace, prosperity, dignity and opportunity, free from the fear of catastrophic climate change.”

California Governor and COP23 Special Envoy to States and Regions Mr. Jerry Brown was due to attend but the current wild fire disaster in his state has seen him remain to coordinate response efforts. In a video address Governor Brown told the Pre-COP: “Forest fires and extreme weather clearly show that climate change is a huge existential challenge and we need to do more.”

The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNISDR, Mr. Robert Glasser, will be at the COP 23 in Bonn emphasizing the alignment of the Sendai Framework with the Paris Agreement in terms of strengthening climate and disaster resilience.

Date:

17 Oct 2017

Sources:

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Sub-Regional Office for the Pacific (UNISDR Pacific)

Themes:

Climate Change

Countries:

Fiji