Fiji’s Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Lynda Tabuya this week held a series of bilateral meetings as part of Fiji’s ongoing preparations for the Third Climate Ministerial and the Pacific Pre-COP, to be hosted in Nadi this October ahead of COP31.
Minister Tabuya first met with Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, to reaffirm the strong Fiji–Australia partnership in delivering a successful Pacific-led Pre-COP.
The two Ministers discussed progress by the Pacific Senior Officials Taskforce, preparations for the Pre-COP agenda and logistics, and the importance of ensuring the event reflects Pacific priorities, culture and values as the region builds momentum towards an ambitious outcome at COP31.
The Minister then met with the three Pacific COP31 Envoys, who hold responsibility for keeping the 1.5°C goal within reach, expanding access to climate finance, and elevating the ocean-climate agenda.
The meeting reviewed progress on the Envoys’ respective workplans and discussed priorities for Pre-COP and COP31, reaffirming that the Envoys’ advocacy role complements, and does not replace, the formal negotiating positions of Pacific states.
Both meetings underscored the urgency of the timeline ahead of October, with Minister Tabuya calling for continued acceleration of planning, coordination and political direction across all workstreams in the lead-up to the Pre-COP and the Third Climate Ministerial.
