Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Biman Prasad says the costs of climate change will continue to burden Pacific countries even though they contribute little to global emissions.

Prasad adds that the upcoming COP conference will require participants to set a new annual funding target to support adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage needs in developing countries.

He expressed gratitude to external funders who covered 90 percent of delegate expenses and emphasized that 55 representatives will lead negotiations in Fiji over the two-week event.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that, beyond technical issues, the parties’ conference will focus on the methods and operations of the New Aggregate Numerical Target on Climate Finance and the Loss and Damage Fund.

“And we face a significant challenge in keeping our interest intact. Thus, despite some claiming that this is a technical and procedural COP, there is a growing understanding among the parties that this is a turning point to determine whether collective efforts in the developing world can meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and sustain the sustainability of sustainable development. “We are playing for vulnerable economies.”

Prasad adds that Fiji will present more than ninety agenda items, so a large team is needed.

Permanent Secretary for Climate Change Dr. Sivendra Michael said they were working to ensure Fiji’s voice as a Small Island Developing State was not misrepresented at the COP 29 forum.

“Obviously, this is a multilateral process and we respect that, and the fact that these decisions will ultimately be made without us in those rooms are things we have to think about right now.”

The 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will be held in Baku Azerbaijan this month.