Pacific Geographies (Mar 2018)
COP23: A “Pacific COP” with “islandised“ outcomes?
Abstract
Fiji presided over the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in November 2017. This was the first time a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) assumed the Presidency of a UN Climate Change Conference. Considering the dramatic consequences of climate change for island states, this article examines to what extent Fiji was successful in making COP23 a ‘Pacific COP’ and forging ‘islandised’ outcomes that can be considered a success for those most vulnerable to impacts of climate change. The article also looks at the difficult circumstances of Fiji’s Presidency in light of the announced withdrawal of the United States of America from the Paris Agreement and the fact that the international community is far from achieving its targets to limit temperature rise to well below 2°C or even 1.5°C. It also links COP23 to Fiji’s geopolitical aspirations that go beyond climate change.
