Prime Minister and COP23 president Voreqe Bainimarama has declared the 24th Session of the Conference of Parties open.

He also proceeded with the election by acclamation of the President of the Conference of the Parties.

The opening of COP24 also saw Bainimarama handover the COP Presidency to the new COP24 president Michael Kurtyka.

“Your Excellency’s you may recall that in accordance with Rule 22, paragraph one of the draft rules of procedure being applied, the office of the president of the Conference of the Parties is subject to rotation among the five regional groups. We now continue the cycle with the president from the Eastern, European states.”

Kurtyka, is the State Secretary in the Ministry of Environment in Poland.