Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) chief executive officer, Nesbitt Hazelman, during the launch of the Global Employers Climate Action Forum at My Suva Picnic Park yesterday.

THE effects of carbon emissions around the world are felt by small island states such as Fiji.

This was highlighted by the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) chief executive officer, Nesbitt Hazelman, during the launch of the Global Employers Climate Action Forum at My Suva Picnic Park yesterday.

Mr Hazelman said the launch was in support of Fiji’s Presidency of COP23 and also to raise awareness and assure that Fiji had a sustainable environment.

“Today (yesterday), the planting of trees signifies our attempt to take into account the carbon emission that will be sort of used up during the time our international delegates fly down to Fiji,” Mr Hazelman said.

“So for that, we are trying to mitigate and plant trees even though there are a few members today (yesterday).

“Basically, this raises awareness, we need to assure that we have a sustainable environment, we need to understand for the future generation that we have an obligation to play where businesses are also singled out as polluters and we need to do our best to ensure we reduce carbon.”

He said unfortunately, the effects of emission around the world were felt by small island states, including Fiji.

“We understand that we have been effective quite considerably, but the fact is that we need to do something and as small as we are, we need to show the world,” he said.

“Fiji is leading this, we are a leader in the Pacific and hopefully by example, they will take it on board and actually do something with their own environment.”

The Global Employers Climate Action Forum will be on July 25 at the Holiday Inn Suva.

The outcomes from the forum will be presented on July 26 and 27 during the Climate Action Pacific Partnership (CAPP) Conference at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva.