Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change and Fiji’s Chief Negotiator at COP29 Dr. Sivendra Michael said there are huge opportunities in solar and hydropower investments in Fiji, however the country’s national circumstances continue to erode the potential to accelerate the uptake of these clean energy technologies at scale.
He highlighted this at a round-table discussion organized by UNDP on Accelerating the Just Energy Transition in Small Island Developing States at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan yesterday.
“The aggregate emissions from all Pacific Island countries accounts for approximately 0.03 percent of global emissions. Despite this, our region continues to strive to lead by example through the setting of ambitious and 1.5°Caligned Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and our ongoing efforts to actively reduce our emissions by investing in renewable energy,” he said.
This story was produced as part of the 2024 Climate Change Media Partnership, a journalism fellowship organized by Internews' Earth Journalism Network and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security. It was first published in FijiOne News on November 14, 2024. It has been translated to English and lightly edited for length and clarity.
Banner image: Fiji's Chief Negotiator speaking at a COP29 side event / Credit: Mereoni Mili.
Mereoni Mili
