No nation, no matter how powerful it is can protect its citizens from the effects of climate change on its own.

These were Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s keynote remarks at the two days Climate Action Pacific Partnership Conference, which started at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva this morning.

Bainimarama says our vulnerability must not be mistaken for weakness, because while we may be extremely vulnerable to rising seas and strengthening storms the vulnerable label does not leave us feeling hopeless.

He says being an underdog does not dishearten us, in-fact it has the opposite effect.

He adds in the face of adversity the fight that ignites us is the Pacific spirit and it allows us to come out on top.

Bainimarama says it is this fight that is driving us to action, and sparking exactly the type of thinking and action needed to bring about real and tangible change.

Bainimarama says everyone must do more for climate change. 

Bainimarama says progress can be seen, like the solar panels providing energy to our largest commercial bottling facility and advancements in batteries and battery storage, coupled with solar energy, now allows for ever‑increasing scalability of solar technology to reach our more remote areas.

He says Vio village on Vio island near Lautoka is the first off‑grid rural community to be electrified by a new program using solar‑battery hybrid micro grid systems, in partnership with the innovative leadership of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

The 2 day conference will be attended by 350 delegates from around the region including leaders from various Pacific Island Countries as well as representatives from Australia, New Zealand and Canada.