As Parliament convenes this week, attention has also turned to Fiji’s climate leadership beyond the chamber, with Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change Hon. Lynda Tabuya meeting with Hon. Seema Malhotra, the United Kingdom Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Indo-Pacific (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities) in the Department for Education.
Discussions during the bilateral meeting yesterday (27:04:2026) focused on preparations for the upcoming pre-COP engagements and how the United Kingdom can support Fiji and Pacific priorities in the lead-up to COP, including strengthening climate resilience, amplifying Pacific voices, and advancing collaborative initiatives. Fiji will be hosting the COP 31 PreCop from 5 to 8 October this year.
The talks also extended to the role of women in leadership and the barriers faced by women politicians in Fiji and across the Pacific, in a separate engagement involving women Members of Parliament. Minister for Fisheries and Forestry Hon. Alitia Bainivalu, Minister for Women Hon. Sashi Kiran, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Lenora Qereqeretabua and Member of Parliament Hon. Premila Kumar contributed perspectives on representation, leadership, and the challenges of navigating political spaces.
