Tabuya’s funding bid rejected

Fiji's Minister for Climate Change and Environment, Lynda Tabuya, has voiced her disappointment following the budget allocation for the new fiscal year, which failed to include additional staffing she had requested for her ministry. Tabuya had sought extra resources to enhance environmental compliance and accelerate the preparation of crucial climate finance project proposals, particularly in anticipation of the Pre-COP meeting Fiji is set to host.

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We are a small team but I’m proud of them even though we didn’t get approval for more funding for more staff, I know and I trust in our current staff that they will be able to handle the workload.

The Minister emphasized that a faster turnaround on project proposals is vital for securing international climate funding. She believes that additional staff would have been instrumental in achieving this. Despite her request not being approved, Tabuya commended her existing team for their unwavering dedication and commitment to fulfilling the ministry's responsibilities. "We are a small team but I’m proud of them even though we didn’t get approval for more funding for more staff, I know and I trust in our current staff that they will be able to handle the workload," she stated.

Tabuya stressed that while the ministry remains under-resourced, she remains confident in her staff's ability to deliver. "As well as the need to be able to handle all the project proposals that we are being asked to do by those climate finance organisations," she added, highlighting the ongoing demands placed upon the ministry.

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As well as the need to be able to handle all the project proposals that we are being asked to do by those climate finance organisations.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu underscored the importance of investing in renewable energy to support Fiji's environmental sustainability efforts. "The transition has to happen, it has to happen definitely and for us being heavily dependent on fossil fuel we really need to seriously look at how we expediate this," he remarked. With no specific allocation for Climate and Environment support, the ministry will now need to explore avenues beyond donor funding to sustain its operations, especially given the persistent need for more manpower.

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The transition has to happen, it has to happen definitely and for us being heavily dependent on fossil fuel we really need to seriously look at how we expediate this.