Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister, Professor Biman Prasad, has stated that the financial requirements for Fiji and the broader Pacific region are more than ten times the current available funding. Addressing members of the COP29 delegation, he highlighted the pressing challenges driven by climate change.
He outlined the significant infrastructure needs, including the construction of over 200 sea walls, relocation efforts for more than 40 villages, and the protection of 100,000 hectares of farmland from saltwater intrusion. Additionally, Prasad mentioned that many village health centers and schools require off-grid renewable energy solutions, as approximately 80,000 children in Fiji are lacking electricity access for their education.
Prasad pointed out the long-term damage to infrastructure caused by successive extreme weather events, affecting everything from airports and jetties to schools and health centers, which are in urgent need of repairs. He emphasized the need for resilience in health facilities and securing food and water resources that can withstand both current and future climate change impacts.
He reiterated the significance of achieving long-term climate security for Fiji, while addressing the complexities surrounding the debate on financial contributions. According to Prasad, the traditional distinctions of who provides and receives aid are increasingly contested, necessitating careful diplomatic navigation to ensure progress is science-driven and pragmatic.
He stressed that the ambitions established through the new collective quantified goal (NCQG) are crucial for keeping global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius. This ambition serves as an indicator of developed countries’ commitments to addressing loss and damage experienced by nations like Fiji.
Professor Prasad is set to lead the Fijian delegation to COP29, which is scheduled to take place in less than three weeks in Baku, Azerbaijan.