Funding for COP26 delegations was standard and available to a wide range of developing countries - Samarasinha

The UN Resident Coordinator in the Pacific Sanaka Samarasinha has told fijivillage that funding provided by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to COP26 delegations is standard and available to a wide range of developing countries.

The Government says Fiji’s 30-plus delegation to COP26 was funded by different agencies which includes the United Nations Capital Development Fund and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Responding to a question by fijivillage, Samarasinha says funding by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an offer.

He says that offer is made so that there is no inequity.

He says as far as the United Nations Capital Development Fund is concerned, the conversations about funding take place during and through existing projects.

Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the travel, accommodation and allowances of the 30-plus Fijian Government delegation attending the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Glasgow, Scotland was fully funded by various donors.

He says it was not from Government coffers.

According to a Government statement, Sayed-Khaiyum says different agencies, such as the Pacific Islands Forum assisted the team and other agencies including Oceans Pathway Partnership, European Union, United Nations Capital Development Fund and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.