Fiji is preparing its delegation for COP29, which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22. The delegation is set to depart on November 11. Dr. Sivendra Michael, the Permanent Secretary for Environment, mentioned that the delegation’s technical working group includes representatives from civil society and the private sector.
They will discuss various topics, including mitigation measures and carbon trading. Prior to COP29, the 16th UN Biodiversity Conference will take place from October 21 to November 1 in Cali, Colombia, with Fiji’s delegation leaving on October 13.
Dr. Michael emphasized that the delegation will present updates on Fiji’s national positions, which have received Cabinet approval. These positions are the result of a collaborative effort among multiple stakeholders over the past month and a half, involving an analysis of decision notes related to the conference agenda.
Currently, there are 66 agenda items for this year’s COP, down from 94 last year, where 63 items were agreed upon while 31 were not. Unresolved items will carry over to future meetings. The delegation has worked on formulating national position papers by evaluating differing options and determining acceptable language for negotiations.
Key focus areas will include climate finance and fallback strategies, particularly regarding the $100 billion funding target initially set in 2009 to support developing countries with adaptation and mitigation efforts. Dr. Michael pointed out that this amount, in current terms, may equate to $150 billion today, prompting discussions on setting new financial targets and ensuring transparency.
He also noted that small island developing states, like Fiji, face unique challenges, especially with natural disasters significantly impacting their GDP, making them increasingly vulnerable. This situation influences Fiji’s debt levels due to the need to allocate resources from the national budget to address the costs arising from disasters.
Furthermore, the delegation will discuss how countries can commit to language that aligns with the Paris Agreement’s target of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, as current global temperatures are estimated to be between 1.9 to 2.1 degrees Celsius. The focus will be on mobilizing efforts to return to the 1.5-degree threshold.