Behind The Scenes | Meet the Fijian Workforce Delivering Pre-COP31

Behind the diplomatic and Ministerial dialogues at Pre-COP31, a dedicated Fijian workforce operated around the clock to help project Pacific leadership onto the global stage.

As delegates depart following a historic week of negotiations before COP31 in Türkiye, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) pays tribute to the hundreds of civil servants, protocol officers, security forces, technical specialists, and service providers whose collective efforts the conference was delivered seamlessly.

On behalf of MFAET, Minister Honourable Sakiasi Ditoka extends his deepest appreciation to every individual, stakeholders and development partners who worked behind the scenes to make this historic gathering a success and show the world the depth of Fiji’s capability and climate leadership.

Their commitment and unity showed Fijian diplomacy in action—precise, professional, and grounded in authentic Pacific hospitality.

The MFAET working closely with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) and other government agencies, has supported the diplomatic, protocol, liaison and logistical arrangements underpinning the Pre-COP programme.

Civil servants, technical teams, security and protocol personnel, communication and liaison officers, service providers and partner agencies have worked collectively to support visiting delegations and enable the substantive discussions to take place.  The workforce managed critical frontline operations which included diplomatic protocol, delegation management, security clearance, media relations, transport logistics, and venue accreditation.

The programme has brought together government representatives, civil society, communities, youth, women, private-sector partners, regional organisations and development partners, reflecting the breadth of engagement required to address the climate challenges facing the Pacific.

Fiji has also worked closely with Australia and Tuvalu throughout the preparation and delivery of the programme, supporting coordination and reflecting the importance of partnerships in advancing shared climate priorities.

As the process moves towards COP31, Fiji will continue to advocate for outcomes that strengthen resilience, improve access to climate finance and ensure that Pacific priorities are reflected in the global climate response. The Pre-COP discussions have provided an opportunity to strengthen alignment around shared regional priorities and build a coordinated approach ahead of the global climate negotiations.