Climate financing a focus for Fiji at Climate negotiations in Cancun

Members of the Fiji Delegation with delegate from the Forum Secretariat and Palau

28 November, Cancun, Mexico - ‘Easy access to climate change funding’ is a key concern for Fiji at the 16^th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework to the Convention on Climate Change in Cancun, Mexico (COP 16).   The issue of new funds to help address climate change concerns in Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) and where they will be managed from has been under discussion during the negotiations this year. 

“For Fiji, wherever the fund is ultimately,” said Sainivalati Navoti, Director Political and Treaties in Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Fiji, “what we would like to see is easy access to that fund, accessible sources of the fund that allow us to continue to address that challenge that climate change poses for Fiji.”

There is a strong team in the official Fiji delegation from diverse fields to accompany the Fiji government representatives including the Pacific Council of Churches and the Fiji media.  With a wide range of delegates, Fiji intends to be meaningful contributors to the negotiations process as they have been with other Pacific island nations since the negotiation meetings increased under the Bali Action Road Map.

“This is the reality of multi-lateralism, if we want to have a binding treaty we need to negotiate and it’s not easy because there is a lot of sovereign interest at stake.  If we do come up with a treaty it has to be give and take, we need to talk and identify areas that we can arrive at a compromise because that is the rule of the game and we have to play.”

The head of delegation for Fiji is Col. Samuela Saumatua the Minister of Local Government, Housing, Urban Development and Environment.  He is accompanied by Fiji’s Ambassador to the European Union, Ambassador Peceli Vocea, who is also the board member of the adaptation fund.  The Director of Environment of Fiji is also a member of the delegation along with those from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Environment and other partners.

The UNFCCC COP 16 is held in Cancun, Mexico from 29 November to 11 December.