FIJI and its regional neighbours will lead the push to unlock climate finance that is faster and fairer for its communities at the upcoming pre-COP Summit.
Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, Minister for Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya said Pacific Island countries needed finance that was accessible, predictable and fit for purpose especially for adaptation and resilience.
“We need our global partners to grasp the realities of our changing world by planning to make climate finance faster, fairer, and more accessible,” she said.
“It does provide a practical solution that puts Pacific leadership at its centre and delivers funding where it makes the biggest difference.”
Ms Tabuya said Pacific Island leaders will be calling for more pledges at the pre-COP Summit in Nadi next week.
“We need to use pre-COP to clearly outline our financial needs of our communities and have greater access to finance.
“Of course, COP31 is an opportunity to turn commitment into capital so that our finance reaches the front line.”
Ms Tabuya added a key focus would be on the Loss and Damage Fund which the Pacific had pushed for its implementation at COP27 and was raised at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) as an instrument that needed more pledges.
“We are global ocean leaders, and we are instrumental and have been instrumental in securing the 1.5-degree Celsius target in the Paris Agreement.
