19 June 2017
Fiji Joins Under2 Coalition, Names Special Advisor for States and Regions
UN Photo/Kibae Park/Sipa Press
story highlights

At a ceremony in Sacramento, US, Fiji became the latest government to join the Subnational Global Climate Leadership Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) (Under2 Coalition).

Ahead of the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP 23), Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Fiji and Incoming COP 23 President named California’s Governor Edmund Brown Jr Special Advisor for States and Regions.

The Council of the City of Seattle approved a resolution committing the city to uphold its portion of the US’ former commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change, including supporting the Green Climate Fund.

14 June 2017: Fiji has become the latest national government to join the Subnational Global Climate Leadership Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) (Under2 Coalition). Other news related to the climate action of sub-national actors has come from California and Seattle.

Formed in 2015 by California, US, and Baden-Württemberg, Germany, the Under2 Coalition is an international pact among cities, federal states and countries committed to limiting the increase in global average temperature to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Fiji joined the Coalition at a 13 June 2017 ceremony held in Sacramento, US.

With the inclusion of Fiji, the Coalition includes 176 jurisdictions collectively representing more than 36 countries, 1.2 billion people and US$28.8 trillion GDP, equivalent to over 16% of the global population and over 39% of the global economy.

During the Sacramento ceremony, Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Fiji and Incoming President of the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP 23), named California’s Governor Edmund Brown Jr. Special Advisor for States and Regions ahead of COP 23 to be held in Bonn, Germany, from 6-17 November 2017. [Office of Governor Edmund Brown Jr. Press Release] [Prime Minister of Fiji and Incoming COP 23 President Frank Bainimarama’s Address] [UNFCCC Press Release] [Under2 Coalition Website]

In other news related to non-state climate action, on 12 June 2017, the Council of the City of Seattle approved a resolution committing the city to uphold its portion of the US’ former commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change, including by supporting the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and reaffirming Seattle’s target to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 58% below 2008 levels by 2030. [City of Seattle Resolution] [City of Seattle Council Press Release] [Decision 1/CP.21 Adopting Paris Agreement] [GCF Website]

President Donald Trump announced the US’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on 1 June 2017. [SDG Knowlegde Hub Story on the US Withdrawl from the Paris Agreement]


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