Fiji, June 10 -- A senior international law expert has raised concerns about power imbalances and inconsistencies in global ocean and climate negotiations, warning that behind-the-scenes diplomacy often diverges from public commitments and sidelines Pacific and Global South voices.

Pradeep Singh, a legal scholar with 15 years of experience in international law and the law of the sea, said his work in multilateral negotiations has exposed what he described as "hypocrisy" in global decision-making processes.

"You see things that make a lot of sense, but at the same time don't make any sense at all," Singh said.

He said public statements made during negotiations often differ significantly from positions taken in closed-door discussions. ...