10 December 2019, Madrid, Spain - In this series, we will be introducing you to some of our Pacific island negotiators and delegates, who are the people representing our islands at the Climate Change negotiations now underway.
The Twenty-fifth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP25) is hosted in Madrid, Spain from 2 – 13 December, 2019.
Pacific negotiators and delegates have been working in the rooms amplifying our Pacific voice and our Pacific asks. We hope you enjoy this series getting to know more of our Pacific Island negotiators and delegates.
Name: Mr Vineil Narayan
Country: Fiji
Q: Tell us about the work you do and how you came to be a representative for your country at COP25?
A: I’m representing Fiji on behalf of the Fijian Government as the person in charge of negotiating Climate Finance for Fiji. It’s been an exciting time at COP25 and in addition to that getting to meet up with fellow Pacific delegates at the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion has been amazing.
Q: Why is climate finance important for the Pacific?
A: Climate finance underpins most of the climate action we are taking or are planning to take and the lack of it has been a lingering problem in the Pacific. We see that climate finance flows don’t really come into the Pacific as much as we need. Largely it gets jumble up in the global space in the Asia-Pacific region, where the Asian priorities are taken at a higher level so I think communicating what our needs are is important to get the right sort of resource mobilisation that we need to have the climate action that we deserve.
Q: What advice would you give to other young Pacific lslanders who would like to one day find themselves working in this area?
A: Have thick skin. Things can get tough at times but it’s all about being diplomatic but also knowing what you want and sticking to your guns as well as coordination. More importantly creating networks, getting to know people and just letting them know your points on issues because at the end of the day it’s negotiations.