Fiji launches carbon market plan and calls for Pacific climate leadership

Fiji has launched a FJD$5.2 million (US$2.6 million) five-year plan to develop its national carbon market, aiming to conduct its first international carbon trade by 2030. The Five-Year Costed Carbon Market Plan 2026–2030 seeks to establish frameworks that allow Fiji to attract climate finance for projects involving renewable energy, sustainable forestry, waste management, and the protection of mangroves and other ecosystems.

Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Risk Management Mosese Bulitavu emphasized that the market must ensure benefits reach local communities and resource owners through fair benefit-sharing. The plan focuses on using carbon trading to unlock sustainable finance while supporting resilient livelihoods.

In a separate address at the Pacific Pre-COP31 stakeholder forum in Nadi, Minister for Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya called for Pacific voices to lead climate decision-making. She urged global leaders to maintain the 1.5-degree Celsius goal and ensure climate finance reaches vulnerable communities directly. Tabuya also advocated for elevating the role of the ocean in the climate agenda, citing its connection to food security, fisheries, and coastal health.