Fiji calls for better access to climate change funds

Mr. Navoti with member of Fiji delegation in discussion at Cancun COP

By Stanley Simpson, Climate Pasifika Media Team

2 December, Cancun, Mexico -  Fiji is calling for better access to funds that will help small island states adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director of Political and Treaties – Sainivalati Navoti says they would like to see the negotiation process result in a finance mechanism that allows easy access to funds – and ‘big negotiations’ are going on now on that fund.

“Fiji like most Pacific island states are here to see the creation of a new fund to be called the Climate Fund, or Green Fund or whatever name it is to enable easy access to adapt to or mitigate the effects of climate change,” Navoti says.

“That is a primary target and we are trying our best to negotiate on that.”

Negotiations on the fund has been going on over the last two days and Navoti reveals that “there is still very polarized views between the developing countries and the donor countries. “

He pointed out that under the Copenhagen Accord – developed countries were willing to put $100 billion for financing on climate change, but developing countries were wanting greater commitments.

“The G77 and China - of which we are a member of - is advancing the argument that $100 billion is not sufficient to comprehensively address the potential implication or adverse effects of climate change,” says Navoti.

“What we then advanced is a shares contribution from developed states of 1.5 per cent of their GDP. Powers like European Union, US, Canada, Australia and NZ, they said no they will not move on that. So now we are going to be innovative and try to come up with a model that could facilitate the setting up of that fund.”

“For Fiji, what we need is sufficient funds for us to access easily. Right now the processes we have in processing some of these climate funds – such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is quite cumbersome. We spend all efforts, almost costing us an arm and a leg to get it, and we don’t want a repeat of that under the new fund.

“So we’re looking for a fund that is predictable – a fund that is there – a fund that is sustainable for a long period of time – and one that allows for easy access.