Fiji’s COP29 Delegation: Business or Pleasure?

Fiji’s delegation to COP29 is approaching its responsibilities with seriousness, as they face 94 agenda items. Deputy Prime Minister and head of the delegation, Professor Biman Prasad, emphasized that their 56-member team is not the largest representation in Fiji’s history. During the COP presidency in 2017, Fiji had 75 delegates, and including various party overflows, that number rose to approximately 307.

At a pre-departure briefing, Professor Prasad responded to an opinion piece by Unity Fiji leader Savenaca Narube, describing the claims made in it as “misleading and factually incorrect.” Narube had asserted that the 2024 delegation was the largest ever and exaggerated the expected costs of the trip to around $6 million, while also incorrectly stating that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change’s permanent secretary, Dr. Sivendra Michael, was a new negotiator.

Prof Prasad clarified that an impressive 91.07 percent of the delegation’s funding has come from external sources, with the total costs for traveling to COP29 amounting to approximately $1.2 million. Of this, roughly $960,065 has been funded externally, while $238,739.77 has been covered by the Government. This funding supports a diverse group that includes three opposition members of Parliament.

The Deputy Prime Minister underscored Dr. Michael’s experience as a COP negotiator since 2015 and highlighted his own extensive background in international negotiations. He urged the need for accurate reporting, reiterating the significance of combining technical negotiations with high-level political engagement to influence the outcomes at COP29.

Overall, Fiji’s delegation is well-prepared and focused on making impactful contributions to the climate change discussions, showcasing their commitment to being actively involved on the global stage. As global attention turns to COP29, Fiji’s balanced approach of securing funding and leveraging experienced negotiators demonstrates a proactive strategy that could yield positive results for their climate agenda.