Climate change-related displacement is emerging as one of the most significant challenges facing Fiji, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad. Speaking at the High-Level Session on International and Regional Cooperation for Climate Mobility during COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, he highlighted that numerous communities face threats from alarming sea level rises.
In his remarks, Professor Prasad emphasized the importance of developing climate mobility solutions that enhance resilience, respect human dignity, and prioritize safety amid increasing vulnerabilities due to climate change. He underscored the necessity of consistent and adequate climate financing to combat the escalating crisis of climate mobility impacting susceptible Pacific island nations.
The Minister conveyed that “human dignity is not something we switch on when project financing comes through and switch off when project financing falls short,” illustrating the societal impact of unreliable funding. He mentioned ongoing initiatives such as the fund for Loss and Damage, the Santiago Network for Loss and Damage, and the Pacific Resilience Facility as essential resources to fill critical funding gaps associated with climate-related losses.
Professor Prasad stated that resorting to relocation due to climate change should be a last resort, considering the deep social, emotional, and spiritual impacts it causes. Therefore, the Government of Fiji prioritizes adaptation strategies wherever feasible. He advocated for proactive measures to address mobility issues and suggested integrating solutions into national and regional adaptation frameworks, which could foster resilience, manage loss and damage, and support sustainable development.
Fiji’s commitment to tackling relocation challenges is demonstrated through its experiences in places like Vunidogoloa and Narikoso, which have informed the Government’s relocation guidelines and operating procedures. He concluded by urging the need for broader access to large-scale climate financing to tackle these pressing issues, stating, “This is why COP29 matters so much to Fiji and the rest of the Pacific.”
This dialogue reflects a concerted effort toward creating effective strategies for climate change challenges, reinforcing the idea that through global cooperation and resource mobilization, nations can forge pathways to resilient futures.
Summary: Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister, Professor Biman Prasad, highlighted the urgent need for climate mobility solutions at COP29, addressing the challenges faced by communities due to rising sea levels and advocating for necessary funding to tackle climate-induced relocation, while emphasizing the importance of resilience and human dignity.
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