Fiji is preparing its national negotiating positions for COP31, with Government ministries and key stakeholders working together to ensure the country’s climate priorities are represented at the global conference in Türkiye.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change convened its Technical Working Group meeting this week to develop Fiji’s positions across 14 thematic priority areas ahead of the negotiations in Antalya.

Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr Sivendra Michael, says Fiji’s negotiating positions must reflect the real experiences of communities already facing the effects of climate change.

He stressed that negotiators have a responsibility to bring the concerns, challenges and expectations of these communities into international discussions and push for decisions that lead to practical action on the ground.

The meeting follows Fiji’s hosting of the Pacific-led Pre-COP31, which brought representatives from close to 100 countries to the Pacific and placed regional climate priorities at the centre of discussions ahead of COP31.

Fiji’s focus now is to ensure that the pledges and commitments made during Pre-COP31 are translated into meaningful action and delivery.

The country’s negotiating positions are being developed through collective input from Government ministries, stakeholders and Technical Working Group members to ensure they reflect the priorities and aspirations of the Fijian people.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change will lead Fiji’s delegation to COP31 in its role as the country’s focal point for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).