Fiji is one of five countries chosen for the Climate Implementation Bridge (BRIDGE), launched in New York by the COP31 Presidency of Türkiye and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
At the heart of Fiji’s work under the pilot is bringing electricity to rural communities through renewable energy.
“For me, this is personal. My island province of Kadavu is home to around 12,000 people and is not connected to the national electricity grid. We have an opportunity to connect Kadavu straight to renewable energy, rather than make our communities dependent on fossil fuels,” said Minister for Environment and Climate Change Hon. Lynda Tabuya.
“Electricity means more than lights. It means better services for schools and health centres, and new opportunities for families and small businesses.”
BRIDGE aims to help Fiji turn climate plans into projects ready for funding and delivery. Fiji’s developing NDC3.0 Costed Implementation Plan will identify practical projects, their costs and how they can be carried out.
Ethiopia, Indonesia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan are the other pilot countries.