Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Champions REDD+ Progress at COP29
Baku, Azerbaijan — Speaking at the
ongoing 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Fiji’s
Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Biman Prasad, emphasized Fiji’s ongoing efforts to
combat climate change through its REDD+ program.
In his address at a Ministerial meeting organized by the Forest Carbon Leadership Partnership (FCLP) and hosted by the Republic of Congo, Hon. Prasad highlighted Fiji’s strides toward meeting its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets.
“We are committed to addressing deforestation and forest degradation and the REDD+ program plays a crucial role in our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Hon. Prasad said.
He added “Since the introduction of Fiji’s REDD+ Policy in 2011, we have worked closely with the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility to develop systems that help us monitor, report and verify emissions from key sectors like agriculture, forestry and land use.”
Hon. Prasad also praised the support provided by the FCPF, which has helped Fiji develop the frameworks necessary for reducing emissions.
He specifically pointed to Fiji’s agreement with the FCPF’s Carbon Fund, under which the country committed to reducing 2.5 million tons of emissions. The first emission reduction report, covering the 2019-2020 period, resulted in 907,027 Emission Reduction (ER) Units, valued at over USD 4.5 million.
“This is a significant achievement. We have shown that through dedication and international collaboration, small island nations like Fiji can make a meaningful contribution to global emissions reduction,” Hon. Prasad said.
The Deputy Prime Minister further highlighted the scale of the REDD+ program, which now covers over 37,000 hectares of land across Fiji’s three main islands, impacting 177 villages.
“Our efforts are not just about reducing emissions but about restoring degraded lands, protecting biodiversity and ensuring that forest-dependent communities benefit from the program,” Hon. Prasad explained.
He also pointed to Fiji’s broader climate strategy, including its ambitious goal of reducing emissions from the energy sector by 30% by 2030, with a focus on increasing reliance on hydro-powered energy.
“The transformation to hydro-powered energy is directly tied to the protection of our forested catchment areas. These forests are essential for maintaining the water supply for our hydroelectric power stations, which is why we place such a strong emphasis on their conservation,” Hon. Prasad said.
He concluded by calling for greater global support for small island nations like Fiji.
“We need continued climate finance and technical support to ensure we can meet our climate goals. Fiji stands firm in its support for the political statement on forest carbon results-based payments, which we believe will help close the financing gap and scale up forest climate action globally,” Hon. Prasad said.
As COP29 continues, Fiji’s commitment to climate action and its work through the REDD+ program remain central to the country’s long-term sustainability and environmental resilience.
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