Minister Tabuya eyes bigger budget

Minister for Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya says she will push for increased funding for her ministry in the upcoming National Budget.

Ms Tabuya highlighted this after noting that her ministry manages nearly $200 million in climate funding while receiving about $13 million from the Government.

Her comments come as public consultations on the 2026–2027 National Budget continue across the country.

She said she was initially surprised by the size of the ministry’s allocation when preparing the budget submission with senior managers.

“Your budget is about $16 million,” she recalled being told, up from $13 million in the last financial year.

She then asked officials to outline the total funding managed by the ministry, including climate funds sourced externally.

The total was about $192 million, comprising funds secured from international sources and climate financing from outside Fiji and the Government.

“I just want to take my hat off to each of you,” she told ministry staff.

“For $13 million, mostly to pay for staff — to manage almost a total of $200 million of climate funding.”

As the facilitating ministry, the Ministry of Environment distributes international funding to other implementing government ministries.

Ms Tabuya said the figures highlighted the scale of responsibility carried by her team and underscored the need for stronger government support.

She said her role as minister was to advocate for increased budget support to sustain that work.

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