Accessing Climate Finance is a huge challenge for many countries like Fiji - Acting PM

Accessing Climate Finance is a huge challenge for many countries like Fiji and other South Pacific Countries.

This was highlighted by Acting Prime Minister and the Minister responsible for Climate Change, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum at the opening of US aid Climate Ready Project Office.

Sayed-Khaiyum says that the opening of US aid Climate Ready Office in Suva is timely as there is a need to build capacity to be able to have the skills required to have access to Climate Adaptation Funds.

He stressed that 80 percent of Climate Funds are available for mitigation and only 20 percent for adaptation.

Sayed-Khaiyum emphasized that the Carbon footprint of Pacific Island countries including Fiji is almost negligible, however are at the fore front of Climate Change, so they are the ones that need to adapt quickly to the effects and ravages of climate change.

He adds that these countries that are the most prone to the effects of Climate change need access to Climate Funds primarily and fundamentally for adaptation as opposed to mitigation.

The US aid Climate Ready Project Office will provide technical assistance and capacity building to help countries access climate change adaptation funding through national accreditation, regional or muiltilateral accreditation.

The regional project will cover 12 Pacific island Countries including Fiji.