Secretary-General addresses leaders at the Pacific Islands Development Forum

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma addressed leaders at the opening of at the Third Summit of the Pacific Islands Development Forum in Suva, Fiji on Wednesday 2 September. 

In his speech on 'Leadership for Climate Resilient Green Blue Pacific Economies,’  Mr Sharma reiterated the Commonwealth's long-standing reputation as a champion of Small Island Developing States, noting that the Commonwealth was the first organisation whose Heads had warned against the perils of global warming. 

Mr Sharma said that he had personally seen the "poignant and unjust" consequences of climate change in the region. Adopting a sustainable 'Blue Economy' approach could offer solutions to many of the challenges facing Pacific countries, he offered.

The Summit was attended by Heads of Government from countries including Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Tonga, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Kiribati and Fiji.

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