Over 95 percent of the costs for the 55-member Fijian delegation attending the upcoming COP29 meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, will be covered by external funding.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad, who will lead the delegation, stated that only the expenses for three Opposition members, including the Leader of the Opposition, will be financed by taxpayers due to the inability to secure other funding for them.
“We aimed for transparency regarding our delegation and its funding to ensure there is no confusion about the costs to taxpayers,” he explained. “We’ve successfully secured significant support from outside the government, which we appreciate.”
Professor Prasad emphasized that the Fijian delegation would be well-prepared and ready to make a strong impact at COP29. He noted that the Pacific Islands have consistently advocated for critical global issues, including those related to ocean health and adaptation strategies.
He highlighted the importance of the New Collective Quantified Goal, indicating that Fiji and the Pacific nations will push for necessary actions to address climate risks faced by small island states and developing countries.
“We are clearly and boldly stating what needs to happen to tackle these climate challenges,” he added.