Fiji’s delegation to COP29 is approaching its mission with seriousness, as the 56 members prepare to address 94 agenda items at the conference. Professor Biman Prasad, the Head of the delegation and Deputy Prime Minister, emphasized that this group is not the largest in history, noting that there were 75 delegates during Fiji’s COP presidency in 2017. When accounting for party overflow at that time, the total number exceeded 300 participants.
In a pre-departure briefing, Professor Prasad responded to criticism from Unity Fiji leader Savenaca Narube, who claimed that the 2024 delegation is the largest ever and cited a trip cost of approximately $6 million. Professor Prasad labeled these assertions as misleading and factually incorrect.
He clarified that the Fiji delegation has successfully secured 91.07 percent of external funding, making it possible for 51 out of the 56 delegates to be funded externally. The total cost for the government delegation attending COP29 is about $1.2 million, with $960,065 sourced externally and $238,739.77 funded by the government.
Professor Prasad pointed out that among the delegates are three members of the opposition and two representatives from the Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Industry. He also affirmed that Dr. Sivendra Michael has experience as a COP negotiator since 2015 and urged the critics to verify facts before making public claims.
Professor Prasad concluded by stressing that public funds are being utilized to ensure meaningful engagement with crucial sectors impacted by climate change. The outcomes of COP29 would rely heavily on both technical negotiations and high-level political discussions.
This detailed breakdown of the Fiji delegation’s efforts highlights the seriousness with which they are approaching their responsibilities at COP29. Such engagement is vital for addressing climate change issues that affect vulnerable sectors, and it showcases Fiji’s commitment to active participation in global discussions.
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