Dr Lesikimacuata Korovavala
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Levels 1 & 2, Bali Tower, 318 Toorak Road
P.O Box 2109
Suva, Fiji
Email: [email protected]
Ms Losalini Rokovesi Rabaka
Senior Secretary to PS Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Email: [email protected]
Dr Sivendra Michael
Permanent Secretary
Office of the Prime Minister
Levels 1 & 2, Bali Tower, 318 Toorak Road
P.O Box 2109
Suva, Fiji
Email: [email protected]
Ms Senivasa Waqairamasi
Director – Climate Change Division
Suva, Fiji
Email: [email protected]
Fiji Meteorological Services
Nadi, Fiji
Email: [email protected]
Date updated: July 2024
Country Overview
Capital: Suva
Land: 18,272 sq km
EEZ: 1.26 million sq km
Population: 837,271 (2007)
Language: English, Fijian, Hindi
Currency: Fiji Dollar
Economy: Agriculture, clothing, fisheries, forestry, tourism and sugar
The Republic of Fiji is an island nation with an estimated population of 837,271 people (2007) and an annual population growth of 0.8%. There are an estimated 330 islands, of which approximately one third are inhabited. Fiji has a total land mass of 18,333 sq km, with Viti Levu (10,429 sq km) and Vanua Levu (5,556 sq km) constituting 87% of the total. The islands are characterized by diverse ecosystems including significant areas of natural forest. Wide ranges of coastal and marine ecosystems exist, ranging from extensive areas of mangroves to various coral formations. Fiji has an exclusive economic zone of 1.26 million square kilometres.
Fiji is composed of large mountainous islands, which are largely of volcanic origin, such as Viti Levu and Vanua Levu (which take up 87% of the total land area), and numerous small volcanic islands, low-lying atolls and elevated reefs. The largest islands have a diverse range of terrestrial ecosystems, including extensive areas of indigenous forest. The high islands have distinct wet and dry sides due to prevailing wind patterns. Coastal ecosystems include mangroves, algae and sea-grass beds in shallow reef and lagoon areas, and various reef types such as barrier, fringing platform and atoll or patch reefs.
Fiji has a mild tropical climate with plentiful rain under prevailing conditions. It is, however, subject to potentially catastrophic climate events such as cyclones, flooding and multiple landslips that can have a major impact on the economy and infrastructure. The predicted climate change and sea level rise could have profound consequences for some urban centers, agriculture and coastal development.
Fiji has one of the largest economies among Pacific Island Countries (PICs), and is one of the PICs least dependent on foreign aid. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Fiji was US$3.78 billion in 2008, or US$3,900 per person. The GDP grew by 1.2% in 2008 after shrinking by 6.6% in 2007. Even though 70% of the Fijian workforce is in the agricultural sector, agriculture and industry together account for less than 25% of GDP. The rest comes from the service sector, mostly from tourism. Within the agricultural and industry sectors, sugar production and processing are by far the most important economic activities. Sugar processing makes up one-third of all industrial activity, and sugar is the country’s primary export product. Other agricultural products produced in the country include coconuts, tapioca, rice, sweet potatoes, and bananas, but these are primarily used for domestic consumption.
Date updated: March 2016
Current Climate
The annual and half-year maximum and minimum temperatures have been increasing at both Suva and Nadi Airport since 1942 with trends significant at the 5% level in all cases except Nadi Airport November–April maximum temperature. Minimum air temperature trends are greater than maximum air temperature trends. The annual numbers of cool days and cool nights have decreased and warm nights have increased at both sites. Warm days have increased at Suva. These temperature trends are consistent with global warming. Annual, half-year and extreme daily rainfall trends show little change at Suva and Nadi Airport since 1942.
Tropical cyclones affect Fiji mainly between November and April, and occasionally in October and May during El Niño years. An average of 28 cyclones per decade developed within or crossed Fiji’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between the 1969/70 and 2010/11 seasons. Twenty-five out of 78 (32%) tropical cyclones between the 1981/82 and 2010/11 seasons became severe events (Category 3 or stronger) in Fiji’s EEZ. Available data are not suitable for assessing long-term trends. Wind-waves around Fiji are typically not large, with wave heights around 1.3 m year-round. Seasonally, waves are influenced by the trade winds, location of the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ), southern storms, and cyclones, and display little variability on inter-annual time scales with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Southern Annular Mode (SAM) (see Box 1). Available data are not suitable for assessing long-term trends.
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO (2014).
Future Climate
For the period to 2100, the latest global climate model (GCM) projections and climate science findings for Fiji indicate:
- El Niño and La Niña events will continue to occur in the future (very high confidence), but there is little consensus on whether these events will change in intensity or frequency;
- Annual mean temperatures and extremely high daily temperatures will continue to rise (very high confidence);
- There is a range in model projections in mean rainfall, with the model average indicating little change in annual rainfall but an increase in the November–April season (low confidence), with more extreme rain events (high confidence);
- The proportion of time in drought is projected to decrease slightly (low confidence);
- Ocean acidification is expected to continue (very high confidence) and the risk of coral bleaching will increase in the future (very high confidence);
- Sea level will continue to rise (very high confidence);
- Wave height is projected to decrease across the Fiji area in the wet season, with a possible small increase in dry season wave heights (low confidence).
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO (2014).
Climate Information Services
The Fiji Meteorology Service provides the following climate information services for monitoring climate trends:
- Monthly climate summary report (with seasonal forecasts)
- Monthly rainfall outlook
- Fiji Sugar Cane Rainfall Outlook (go to Fiji Sugar Cane Corporation)
- Bulletin for renewable energy sector (hydro) – (go to Fiji Electricity Authority)
Date updated: March 2016
Governance
The People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress (December 2008) serves as the umbrella framework for national development. The Roadmap for Democracy and Sustainable Socio-Economic Development 2009–2014 defines the implementation framework for the Charter. The National Climate Change Policy serves as an implementing tool for many of the strategies outlined in the Charter, such as:
- environmental protection, sustainable management and utilisation of natural resources;
- strengthening institutional capacity for environmental management; and
- strengthening food security
Fiji ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1993 as a Non-Annex 1 Party and became legally compelled to adopt and implement policies and measures intended to adapt and to mitigate the effects of climate change.
In 2012, Fiji endorsed its National Climate Change Policy facilitated by the NCCCT and guided by the NCCCC. The policy provides a platform for coordination among sectors, and direction on national positions and priorities regarding climate change mitigation and adaptation. The implementation framework of the policy has allowed Fiji to develop a Coordination guideline, Finance Guideline and Relocation Guideline that will enable the policy to achieve its goals in addressing climate change in Fiji.
The Climate Change Unit situated under the Ministry of Finance is responsible for delivering the National Climate Change Policy and co-ordinating climate change programmes and projects in Fiji. It acts as the secretariat of the Fiji National Climate Change Coordinating Committee (NCCCC) which comprises of Permanent Secretaries and senior officials of line ministries and is responsible for overseeing the coordination of Climate Change issues in Fiji.
The operational arm of the NCCC is the National Climate Change Country Team (NCCCT) which acts as the main platform for information sharing and climate change project progress reporting. The NCCCT is chaired by the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and consists of representatives from a range of government agencies, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions.
Date updated: March 2016
National Climate Change Priorities
Fiji identified eight climate change priorities under its 2012 Policy outlined as objectives with a number of strategies to achieve these objectives and are summarised in the following areas:
Priority Area | Objective |
|---|---|
| Integrate climate change issues in all national and sector policy and planning processes. |
| Collect, manage and use accurate and scientifically sound climate change-related data and information. |
| Increase awareness and understanding of climate change-related issues across all sectors and at all levels in Fiji. |
| Integrate climate change in school curricula, tertiary courses, and vocational, non-formal education and training programmes. |
| Reduce the vulnerability and enhance the resilience of Fiji’s communities to the impacts of climate change and disasters. |
| Reduce Fiji’s greenhouse gas emissions and implement initiatives to increase the sequestration and storage of greenhouse gases. |
| Ensure sustainable financing for climate change efforts. |
| Effectively participate in and contribute to international and Pacific region climate change negotiations, discussions, commitments and outcomes. |
Date updated: March 2016
Adaptation
Fiji’s adaptation strategies are:
- Integrate related disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation strategies and actions into national and sectoral planning to streamline responses.
- Include vulnerability assessments and climate change impact projections into resource management planning, such as integrated coastal and watershed management plans.
- Incorporate climate change impact projections into infrastructure and urban and rural planning.
- Develop sustainable adaptation technologies and systems that take traditional knowledge into account and are culturally acceptable.
- Support the ecosystem-based approach throughout Fiji, recognising that ecosystem services, such as food security, natural hazard mitigation and physical coastal buffer zones, increase resilience.
- Develop and make accessible hazard maps of coastal, riverine, urban and inland areas in Fiji, using the comprehensive hazard assessment and risk management (CHARM) tool to guide all development planning.
- Assess poverty, health and food security issues to determine their vulnerability to climate change, and consider these vulnerabilities in future policies and initiatives
- Improve disaster response capacity and access to public health facilities, emergency services, communication services and evacuation centres.
- Build the capacity of the health and agriculture sectors to respond effectively to climate sensitive diseases, including the strengthening of disease surveillance and control systems, and early warning mechanisms for climate sensitive human and livestock diseases.
- Use appropriate consultation mechanisms for the participation of all members of the community in the planning, management and implementation of adaptation measures.
- Mobilise resources and all sectors to support the implementation of relevant national adaptation strategies and plans, such as the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, the planned joint national action plan for CCA and DRM and the National Disaster Risk Management Plan.
- Strengthen early warning systems to ensure effective and timely communication to the public, with particular attention paid to isolated, hazard-prone and disadvantaged areas.
- Implement best practice adaptation measures, based on sound scientific research, and lessons learnt from local, regional and international experiences.
- Undertake national research to identify effective adaptation measures to support sector-specific adaptation and disaster risk reduction responses.
- Establish a monitoring and evaluation system to determine the success of national, sectoral and local adaptation initiatives.
Date updated: March 2016
Mitigation
Fiji’s mitigation strategies are:
- Develop joint programmes and cooperation agreements between relevant sectors to reduce and avoid greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
- Develop and implement national, industrial, commercial (such as the tourism, agriculture and mining sectors) and household energy efficiency programmes, including provision of rebates, incentives and disincentives.
- Assess and utilise appropriate renewable energy sources, such as wave, tidal, solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biofuel and biomass.
- Support the implementation of the Fiji REDD-Plus Policy, the Fiji Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, the National Air Pollution Control Strategy, the Ozone Depleting Substances Decree, the National Energy Policy, the Clean Development Mechanism Policy Guideline and other relevant national polices and strategies on the reduction of GH emissions, deforestation, forest degradation and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
- Access international financing instruments to support renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste management and carbon trading initiatives.
- Control and reduce emissions from existing private and public vehicles.
- Control the ages of imported and second-hand vehicles and introduce alternative fuel powered vehicles.
- Develop activities and infrastructure that promote the reduction and avoidance of fossil fuel consumption (for example, construct proper walking and cycling lanes).
- Support the enforcement of legislation on open burning in residential and commercial locations, as stated by the Environment Management Act (2005).
- Formalise collaboration arrangements and commitments of members of committees working in the area of climate change mitigation, such as the Carbon Trading Technical Team, and the Fiji REDD-Plus Steering Committee.
One project that is currently under implementation and is the EU Adapting to Climate Change and Sustainable Energy.
Government of Fiji Rural Electrification Programme
DOE's 2008 Business Plan has over forty activities. Of the 40 activities, 15 are renewable energy activities with a total budget of FJD2 million. These are the co-financing activities in Fiji and include the following:
- Renewable Energy Database
- Renewable Energy Statistics
- Capacity Building
- Solar Home Systems (SHS) Programme
- Somosomo Hydro Project
- Nabouwalu Hybrid (Wind/Solar) Project
- Biogas Programme
- Wind Programme (Survey & Long term monitoring)
- Hydro Programme (Survey & Long term monitoring)
- Wave Programme (Survey & Long term monitoring)
- Solar Insolation Programme (Survey & Long term monitoring)
- Renewable Energy Standards
- Compilation of Hydro Potential Report (based on 500 sites already being surveyed)
- Hydro Detailed Designing (2 projects per year)
- RED Infrastructure Framework (Standard Operating Procedures)[4]
For addition information go to website of the following:
- Fiji Department of Energy
- Fiji Electricity Authority | Rural Electrification
- Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement Through Renewable Energy Project (PIGGAREP)
Formulation of Net-Metering Policy Framework
The Fiji Electricity Authority (FEA) - the only state owned electricity utility in Fiji - is keen to buy electricity from grid-connected systems through net-metering, and has the necessary legislation in place to do so.
This project was announced by FEA’s Chief Information Officer, Mr AnandNanjangud, during the Small Developing Island Renewable Energy Knowledge and Technology Transfer Network-Project DIREKT-organised workshop held at the University of the South Pacific on 16 March 2012.
The workshop focused on the economics, application and legislation relating to renewable energy and was attended by 55 participants from four government departments, three regional agencies, the private sector and members of the public.
The workshop also looked at evaluating the economics of the use of solar PV systems, and the steps that would be required to facilitate the installation and use of grid-connected PV systems in Fiji.
For additional information and contacts, visit the websites listed below or contact the national focal points
- Fiji Department of Energy
- Fiji Electricity Authority | Rural Electrification
- Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement Through Renewable Energy Project (PIGGAREP)
Date updated: March 2016
Knowledge Management & Education
Fiji’s Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) 2012-2014, aims to provide a “holistic and empowering education system that enables all children to realise and appreciate fully their inheritance and potential contributing to peaceful and sustainable national development.” In the current curriculum elements of climate change are addressed in basic science (form 3 and 4), biology (form 6 and 7), physics (form 6 and 7) and geography (form 6 and 7) in secondary education. In Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) environmental changes are addressed in agricultural science (form 3 to 7). However, in Nadi, September 2011, the Fiji Ministry of Education, National Heritage, Culture & Arts identified the need to strengthen existing learning outcomes and education materials and conduct national consultations to ensure learning is sufficient to adequately increase students’ capacities to deal with climate change impacts and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Achievements:
- In 2012 the Ministry of Education endorsed a strategy to implement Objective 4 on Training and Education from the NCCP (2012) and prior work plans aiming at integrating climate change in school curricula, tertiary courses, and vocational, non-formal education and training programmes (including Special Education Schools).
- The Curriculum Development Unit is chairing a new national sub-working group on climate change training and education under the Climate Change Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration.
- Through a series of workshops curriculum development officers have strengthened and integrated relevant content and learning outcomes on climate change and disaster risk management in Basic and Social Science, Geography, Agriculture, Industrial Arts and Home Economics. The key concepts will be introduced in classes 7 and 8.
- Based on a stocktake of existing and utilized teaching and awareness resources the children story book ‘Pou and Miri’ has been identified as a useful teaching resource and has been handed over to the Ministry to distribute to all Fijian primary schools (in English and VosaVakaViti).
- The I-Taukei climate change glossary has been handed over to the Ministry of Education.
- An environmental alphabet poster has been developed with the Ministry of Education and NatureFiji-MareqetiViti for all primary school children, showing native animals and plants.
- National consultation on the climate change and disaster risk elements in the new curriculum.
- Provision of existing education and awareness materials relating to climate change and disaster riskmanagement of various agencies on the national climate change web-portal.
- Integrate new climate change and disaster risk management relevant curriculum elements into the national teacher pre- and in-service training.
- Training of lecturers and teachers on the use of the ‘Picture-based outreach toolkit on climate change’.[3]
For additional information on knowledge management and education on climate change, visit the department and project websites listed below:
- Department of Environment, Fiji: Education Awareness
- Fiji’s 3R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- “SPARCK” Sharing Perceptions of Adaptation, Resilience and Climate Knowledge project
- SPC/GIZ Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region
Date updated: March 2016
Key national policies, plans and actions
The Fiji Department of the Environment’s Initial National Communication (INC) under the Framework Convention on Climate Change, submitted in 2006, outlines the climate change situation for Fiji and details adaptation measures for the country. Fiji’s INC focuses on several projects: 1) establishment of a Climate Change Unit within the Department of Environment; 2) promotion of renewable energy; 3) natural vulnerability and adaptation assessment study; 4) watershed management for the sugarcane drought-prone areas; and 5) integrated coastal zone management. This detailed document introduces several mitigation techniques and strategies for reaching their goals via the main projects proposed for Fiji. The adaptation response strategies defined within Fiji’s INC advocated for effective integrated national adaptation policies which would facilitate ‘win-win’ scenarios, or policies that would be beneficial nationally even in the absence of climate change.
Building on this effort, Fiji integrated climate change considerations into its Strategic Development Plan (2007–2011). This plan is an all-encompassing document that outlines the development strategy for the country in terms of environment, economy, human health, tourism, marine resources and many other areas. Climate change adaptation and mitigation is a theme found throughout the document and as its own separate discussion piece.
The production of Fiji’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, National Land Use Policy (Land Use Department, 2005), the Initial National Communication on Climate Change Strategic Actions (2006), Solid and Liquid Waste Strategies (2006), Endangered and Protected Species ACT (2002), Environment Management Act (EMA) 2005 and the scheduled Litter Act for 2008 provides a framework for sustainable management of land and water resources.
In 2007, Cabinet endorsed Fiji’s National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) Framework, which defined the position of government and other stakeholders on issues of climate change, climate variability and sea level rise. It also defined the various responsibilities of each stakeholder in the short and long term. The framework underwent review in 2011 to reflect current and emerging climate change issues at the local, national and international level. The revised, Republic of Fiji, National Climate Change Policy, 2012, was prepared by the Government of the Republic of Fiji, in consultation with the National Climate Change Country Team and national and divisional stakeholders.[1]
The reviewing and updating of the framework led to the development of this NCCP, in accordance with the 2011 Corporate Plan of the Department of Environment under its Climate Change Programme. The policy provides a platform for co-ordination among sectors, and direction on national positions and priorities regarding climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The policy recognises the need for constructive co-operation among all relevant sectors. This interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral approach is emphasised in Agenda 21 of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro. In the Pacific region, intergovernmental organisations such as the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), along with representatives from academia such as the University of the South Pacific (USP), are implementing regional climate change programmes that support the development of national programmes and policies.
Currently, Fiji’s Joint National Action Plan (JNAP) for Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation is under development.The JNAP will provide a roadmap for building a more resilient Fiji. The JNAP also intends to provide details on establishing a more co-ordinated approach to dealing with disaster risk reduction and climate change issues by various agencies.
Date updated: March 2016
[1] Republic of Fiji, National Climate Change Policy, 2012. Accessed on 29 May 2013:http://www.foreignaffairs.gov.fj/images/Fiji%20National%20Climate%20Change%20policy.pdf
| NAME OF PARTNER (With Acronym) | DESCRIPTION OF PARTNER | LINK TO PARTNER WEBSITE |
| Adaptation Fund Board (AFB) | Established by UNFCCC as the operating entity to supervise and manage the Adaptation Fund, under the authority and guidance of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. | https://www.adaptation-fund.org/about/the-board |
| Asian Development Bank (ADB) | ADB is a multilateral development finance institution dedicated to reducing poverty and improving living standards of people in Asia and the Pacific. It was established in 1966, currently comprising 67 members, mostly from the Asia-Pacific region. | http://www.adb.org/ |
| ARD Inc. | Provider of consulting, engineering, and technical services worldwide, with expertise in science, research, engineering, construction, and information technology. | http://www.tetratech.com/ |
| Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) | Provides the Australian and international communities with weather forecasts, warnings and observations for all areas of Australia, coastal waters areas, and high seas around Australia. | http://www.bom.gov.au/ |
| Australian Government Overseas Aid Program (AusAID) | Australia’s aid program is guided by five core strategic goals: saving lives, opportunities for all, sustainable economic development, effective governance, and humanitarian and disaster response. | http://www.ausaid.gov.au/ |
| Conservation International | Comprised of scientists, field staff and policy experts who: measure the contribution of healthy ecosystems to human well-being; assess the implications of development decisions; put cutting-edge, rigorously tested information in the hands of decision-makers and the public; and demonstrate through field models how economic opportunity and the stewardship of natural resources can leverage change at an international scale. | http://www.conservation.org/ |
| Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education – Australia | Helps shape Australia’s future economy through skills, learning, discovery and innovation. | http://www.climatechange.gov.au/ |
| Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) | German international aid organisation, comprised of three implementing organisations for technical cooperation. | http://www.giz.de/en/ |
| Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development – Germany (BMZ) | Works to achieve development goals agreed upon by the international community. Addresses key issues of modern-day development cooperation. | http://www.bmz.de/en/index.html |
| Fiji Department of the Environment | Promotes the sustainable use and development of Fiji’s environment and efficient implementation of policies, legislation and programs. | http://www.environment.gov.fj/ |
| Global Environment Facility (GEF) | The GEF unites 183 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. Today the GEF is the largest public funder of projects to improve the global environment. An independently operating financial organization, the GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. | http://www.thegef.org/ |
| Meteorological Service of New Zealand (MetService) | New Zealand's national meteorological service, MetService produces and issues forecasts and official weather warnings on behalf of New Zealand's Ministry of Transport and is certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand. | http://www.metservice.com/ |
| National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) | A New Zealand Crown Research Institute whose mission is to conduct leading environmental science to enable the sustainable management of natural resources for New Zealand and the planet. | http://www.niwa.co.nz/ |
| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) | NOAA is a United States federal agency focused on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere. | http://www.noaa.gov/ |
| Ocean and Islands Programme (OIP) | The Ocean and Islands Programme (OIP) provides vital applied ocean, island and coastal geoscience services to SPC member countries. These technical services are strategically deployed in response to member requests for assistance in the development, management and monitoring of natural resources and unique island environmental systems and processes. | http://www.sopac.org/index.php/sopac-programmes/oceans-and-islands-programme |
| Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) | SPC is an international organisation that works in public health, geoscience, agriculture, forestry, water resources, disaster management, fisheries, education (community, TVET, quality and standards for all school levels), statistics, transport, energy, ICT, media, human rights, gender, youth and culture to help Pacific Island people achieve sustainable development. SPC’s members are the 22 Pacific Island countries and territories that are the beneficiaries of its services, along with four of the original founding countries. | http://www.spc.int/ |
| Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) | Promotes cooperation in the South Pacific region, protects and improves the South Pacific environment and to ensure sustainable development for present and future generations. | http://www.sprep.org/ |
| The Nature Conservancy (TNC) | A leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. | http://www.nature.org/ |
| The University of the South Pacific (USP) | A public research university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. | http://www.usp.ac.fj/ |
| United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. | http://www.undp.org |
| United Nations Institute for Training and Research Climate Change Capacity Development (UNITAR - C3D+) | Seeks to improve the capacity of research and training institutions in developing countries to support climate change adaptation and mitigation action. | http://www.c3d-unitar.org/ |
| United States Agency for International Development (USAID) | USAID works in over 100 countries to: Promote broadly shared economic prosperity; Strengthen democracy and good governance; Protect human rights; Improve global health; Advance food security and agriculture; Improve environmental sustainability; Further education; Help societies prevent and recover from conflicts; and Provide humanitarian assistance in the wake of natural and man-made disasters. | http://www.usaid.gov/ |
| World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) | A specialised agency of the United Nations. Its purpose is to facilitate international cooperation in the establishment of networks of stations for making Meteorological, hydrological and other observations; and to promote the rapid exchange of meteorological information, the standardisation of meteorological observations and the uniform publication of observations and statistics. | http://www.wmo.int |
Most of the adaptation action in Fiji focuses on its important coastal zone and water management needs. Greater attention may also be given to addressing the country’s adaptation priorities in the agriculture sector. In addition, none of the currently identified projects specifically focus on the gender dimensions of climate change.
Fiji’s National Capacity Self-Assessment (NCSA) on the delivery of Fiji’s commitments under the UNFCCC conducted in 2008 outlined that Fiji’s existing national climate adaptation strategies are weak and require improved recognition and integration of tried and tested community-based climate adaptation and sustainable resource management approaches to ensure that they are achievable and cost-effective.[1] For more information refer to:National Capacity Self-Assessment: Fiji
As detailed in the Republic of Fiji, National Climate Change Policy, 2012, the following are major constraints towards addressing climate change issues in Fiji:
- Institutional framework
- Uncoordinated and highly sectoral development and implementation of climate change projects, and weak collaboration amongst government bodies, NGOs, and the private sector.
- Lack of support and funding for the climate change unit to effectively fulfil its role.
- Lack of integration of climate change issues into sectoral planning and budgeting processes.
- Lack of a national repository for climate change information.
- Inconsistency in methodologies and standards used by various agencies when collecting and analysing climate change-related data and information.
- Lack of co-ordination in sectoral response mechanisms to communities affected by climate change and disaster-related events.
- Lack of an early warning system to inform the public about extreme events.
- Supporting legislation
- Existing legislation and sectoral policies do not adequately consider climate change issues.
- Lack of effective enforcement of environment and resource management legislation that is contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
- National planning
- Inadequate consideration of climate change issues into land-use planning, urban and rural planning, coastal zone planning and infrastructure development plans.
- Uncontrolled and unregulated clearing of marginal and vulnerable terrestrial areas has reduced the provision of ecosystem services.
- Ageing and poorly maintained service utilities and infrastructure that cannot cope with existing demands will be put under further pressure due to climate change.
- Human resources
- Lack of personnel with relevant expertise on sectoral climate change issues in government.
- Lack of recognition of the relevance of climate change expertise in established positions of government sectors.
- Inability of sectors to retain, support and develop skilled personnel.
- Lack of core funding to support and sustain established climate change personnel in government sectors.
- Awareness and training
- Lack of awareness and understanding of climate change and its impacts, which hinders the development and effective implementation of appropriate responses.
- Education
- Inadequate reviewing and updating of climate change-related content in school curricula and technical, vocational and teacher training courses.[2]
[2] Republic of Fiji, National Climate Change Policy, 2012. Accessed on 29 May 2013:http://www.foreignaffairs.gov.fj/images/Fiji%20National%20Climate%20Change%20policy.pdf, p. 15.
References
- The following references have been used to develop the country profile. All sources of information are from local, regional and international agencies. The profile is reviewed by the national focal point for accuracy. Any error or missing information is regretted and we encourage you to report by emailing the focal point.
- Dohan, Rosemary; Hove, Hilary; Echeverría, Daniella; Hammill, Anne; Parry, Jo-Ellen. (2011) “Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action: The Pacific.” Adaptation Partnership / International Institute for Sustainable Development.
- Fiji (n.d.) Climate Change Plan. Press release. Retrieved from http://www.fiji.gov.fj/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3476:climate-change-policy&catid=71:press-releases&Itemid=155
- Government of the Republic of the Fiji Islands [GRFI] (2009). Our Country. Retrieved from Fiji Government Online Portal: http://fiji.gov.fj/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=645&Itemid=196
- Hay, J. (2011). Preparing Fiji’s National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS). Presentation to the National Climate Change Country Team. Suva, Fiji. 20 March 2011. Retrieved fromhttp://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/FJI_NCCAS_2011_preparation.pdf
- Australian Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO (2014). Climate Variability, Extremes and Change in the Western Tropical Pacific: New Science and Updated Country Reports. Pacific-Australia Climate Change Science and Adaptation Planning Program Technical Report, Australian Bureau of Meteorology and Commonwealth
- Republic of Fiji, National Climate Change Policy, 2012. Accessed on 29 May 2013:http://www.foreignaffairs.gov.fj/images/Fiji%20National%20Climate%20Change%20policy.pdf
- Republic of Fiji: second national communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. - Suva, Fiji: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2014.
- http://www.foreignaffairs.gov.fj/images/Fiji%20National%20Climate%20Change%20policy.pdf, p. 24.
- Republic of Fiji, National Climate Change Policy, 2012. Accessed on 29 May 2013:http://www.foreignaffairs.gov.fj/images/Fiji%20National%20Climate%20Change%20policy.pdf
- http://www.sprep.org/Pacific-Islands-Greenhouse-Gas-Abatement-through-Renewable-Energy-Project/about-piggarep
- http://www.sprep.org/Pacific-Islands-Greenhouse-Gas-Abatement-through-Renewable-Energy-Project/pacific-islands-greenhouse-gas-abatement-through-renewable-energy-project-piggarep-fiji-interventions
- Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change
- Pacific Climate Futures Tool
- Pacific Environment Information Network (PEIN) Country Profile: Fiji
- Pacific Regional Information System (PRISM)
- Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement Through Renewable Energy Project (PIGGAREP)
- Population Geographical Information System (PopGIS)
- UNDP Regional Centre: Asia and the Pacific
- Waitabu Marine Reserve
Date updated: March 2016