The Fijian government launched a five-year, FJD$5.2 million plan on Monday to prepare the country to generate and sell verified emissions reductions on international carbon markets, with the stated aim of completing Fiji’s first international carbon trade by 2030. The Five-Year Costed Carbon Market Plan 2026–2030 was unveiled in Nadi on the opening day of the Pre-COP31 preparatory meeting, according to Xinhua and Papua New Guinea’s Post Courier.
Key facts
- What was launched: the Five-Year Costed Carbon Market Plan 2026–2030, estimated to cost FJD$5.2 million.
- Where and when: Nadi, on Monday, the opening day of the Pre-COP31 meeting, both outlets report.
- The target: enabling Fiji to complete its first international carbon trade by 2030, according to Xinhua.
- The legal basis: participation in international carbon markets under the Paris Agreement, Xinhua reports.
- Who wrote it: the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, working with the Ministry of Forestry and Conservation International, a conservation organisation, according to the Post Courier.
- What it covers: regulation, technical capacity, institutional arrangements and market infrastructure, Xinhua reports.
Why it matters
International carbon markets let countries generate and trade verified cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, both reports explain. Fiji says taking part could mobilise additional climate finance, and the government points to renewable energy, sustainable forestry, waste management, resilient livelihoods and the protection of natural ecosystems as the areas that could draw new investment.
The Post Courier specifies that the ecosystems in question include forests and mangroves. Neither report names a buyer, a project or a price, and neither says how much revenue Fiji expects.
What the government is promising communities
Minister Mosese Bulitavu, who holds the rural and maritime development and disaster management portfolio, used the launch to argue that trading itself is not the point. “For Fiji, carbon markets must be about more than trading carbon,” he said, in remarks reported by the Post Courier, adding that they must deliver real climate action, unlock new and sustainable sources of climate finance, and get benefits through to communities and resource owners.
According to the Post Courier, the plan puts communities and resource owners at the centre of Fiji’s carbon market development, with a focus on fair benefit-sharing, safeguards and resilient livelihoods. Xinhua reports Bulitavu as saying carbon markets should deliver benefits beyond carbon trading and ensure that local communities and resource owners benefit from related investments.
Systems first, trade later
The timeline implies four years of groundwork before any sale. Bulitavu said Fiji needs to put in place the necessary systems, safeguards and partnerships to take part in international carbon markets while protecting its national interests, Xinhua reports — which is what the plan’s four workstreams on regulation, capacity, institutions and market infrastructure are meant to build.
The document is also a fundraising instrument. Xinhua reports it provides a framework for the government to seek financial and technical support from development partners, donors and potential carbon buyers, and the Post Courier reports the government has called on development partners to back implementation. Neither outlet reports any pledges made at the launch.
The Nadi backdrop
Fiji chose a crowded stage. The launch landed on day one of the Pre-COP31 gathering in Nadi, the same meeting that has drawn youth and women’s groups pressing for seats at the table and villagers who brought their relocation stories to the meeting. It was also met by an apology advertisement aimed at delegates by the Australia Institute.
The two outlets differ slightly on the event’s name: Xinhua calls it the preparatory meeting for the 31st UN Climate Change Conference, while the Post Courier calls it the Pacific Pre-COP31. Both place it in Nadi and both date the launch to the opening day.
What is not yet known
The reports leave several questions open. They do not say which agency will regulate Fiji’s carbon market, how the FJD$5.2 million breaks down across the four workstreams, how benefit-sharing with resource owners would be calculated, or whether any legislation is needed before a first trade. They also do not describe which Fijian projects might generate the first credits.
The Post Courier frames the plan as part of Fiji’s broader push to mobilise climate finance and strengthen its capacity to respond to climate change while protecting the country’s natural ecosystems. On the sources available, the next verifiable milestone is the 2030 date the government has set itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the plan worth in US dollars?
The two reports give different conversions for the same FJD$5.2 million figure. Xinhua put it at about 2.3 million US dollars, while the Post Courier put it at US$2.6 million. Both agree on the Fijian dollar amount.
What is Mosese Bulitavu’s portfolio?
He is the minister responsible for rural and maritime development and disaster management, and he spoke at the launch. Xinhua names his office as Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management; the Post Courier calls it Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Risk Management.
Is the FJD$5.2 million already funded?
Neither report says the money is secured. According to Xinhua, the plan provides a framework for the government to seek financial and technical support from development partners, donors and potential carbon buyers, and the Post Courier reports the government has called on development partners to support implementation.
What is Pre-COP31?
Xinhua describes it as the preparatory meeting for the 31st UN Climate Change Conference, held in Nadi, where the plan was launched on the opening day. The Post Courier refers to the same gathering as the Pacific Pre-COP31.
