Fiji’s Delegation Faces Tough COP29 Agenda Amidst Controversy

Fiji’s delegation to COP29 is preparing to tackle a significant workload, with 94 agenda items to address, affirming that their participation is focused and purposeful. Led by Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad, the delegation includes 56 members, which is notably smaller than the 75 participants during Fiji’s COP presidency in 2017, where the total number of delegates exceeded 300 when factoring in party overflow.

At a pre-departure briefing, Professor Prasad responded to a recently published opinion piece by Unity Fiji leader Savenaca Narube, describing it as misleading and factually incorrect. He highlighted the inaccuracies in Mr. Narube’s claims regarding the size and funding of the COP29 delegation, affirming that the delegation is not the largest in history and clarifying that the estimated direct cost of the trip is approximately $1.2 million, significantly lower than the $6 million stated in the article.

Prasad emphasized that 91.07 percent of the funding for the delegates comes from external sources, with only a portion provided by the government. He also noted that Dr. Sivendra Michael, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change’s permanent secretary, has been a negotiator since 2015, countering claims that he is new to the role.

He expressed disappointment that such misleading information came from a political leader and encouraged a more fact-based dialogue regarding global climate negotiations. Prasad underscored the importance of both technical negotiations and political engagement in determining the outcomes of COP29.

In summary, Fijian officials are gearing up for an impactful COP29, ready to engage in high-level discussions on climate challenges while maintaining a commitment to responsible use of public finances.

This proactive and focused approach from Fiji’s delegation serves as a testament to their dedication to climate advocacy, ensuring that their contributions at the conference may have long-term positive implications for vulnerable communities affected by climate change.