Fiji can expect new innovative programs supporting ‘Green Growth Investments’ to emerge through strengthened engagements between the Fijian Government and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), an international organisation dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing economies.
This was emphasised at a meeting held on Monday this week between the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister and Acting Permanent Secretary Foreign Affairs Yogesh Karan and the Global Green Growth Institute Country Representative for Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga and Vanuatu, Daniel Muñoz-Smith, and GGGI’s Pacific Regional Advisor Katerina Syngellakis.
Discussions revolved around GGGI’s proposed Work Plan and Budget 2021-2022 and GGGI’s continued support for Fiji’s Green Growth planning and climate finance mobilisation in the strategic energy, transport and green cities sectors, and steps to enhance support for green jobs and innovation.
Mr Karan conveyed the Government’s appreciation to Global Green Growth Institute for its remarkable cooperation and commitment in building an inclusive, sustainable socio-economic development and advancing the climate-resilient green growth in Fiji and the region.
He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to capitalise on GGGI’s partnership to further integrate green growth aspects into Fiji’s national development framework, policies and plans.
Mr Muñoz-Smith said he was honored to take up his new role in Fiji and to help advance the work of GGGI in Fiji and the region.
He also conveyed his sincere appreciation to Mr Karan for the swift assistance in facilitating his travel arrangements to Fiji this year to take up his new role at GGGI Fiji.
He said the meeting with PS Karan has generated comprehensive discussions on the innovative programs that GGGI can pursue in partnership with Fiji.
“The meeting went very well, we discussed new areas of support for Fiji’s development plans particularly, in climate change, green economy work and GGGI’s support in recognition of the Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama’s leadership in climate change and COP23. GGGI is committed to working with the Fijian Government in advancing its national priorities and we look forward to the OPM’s support.
“The Workplan for 2021 to 2022 is an extension of the work that GGGI has been doing since 2015. GGGI is reviewing the work of the National Energy Policy (NEP) drafted in 2014 and currently we are working with the Department of Energy and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) to review the energy policy and the next step would be identifying the opportunities to support the development of a new energy policy.
“We are currently working with the Ministry of Economy to support its accreditation to the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Once the Ministry of Economy becomes a direct access entity, it will enhance opportunities for Fiji to access international climate financing to support Fiji’s many projects be it renewable energies or coastal resilience in communities. There is a wide spectrum of support that climate funds can provide. To assist in the implementation of Fiji’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP), GGGI is also supporting a GCF Readiness proposal to provide capacity building and help mainstream adaptation planning at the sub-national level,” Mr Muñoz-Smith said.
The Fiji Development Bank (FDB) is currently accredited as a direct access entity of the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
The GGGI Program in Fiji is based in Suva and its programs are designed to assist the Government to develop bankable renewable energy projects as well as to integrate green growth aspects into national development frameworks related to energy policies.
