Fiji to Bring Climate Commitments to Parliament with Private-Sector Partnerships

Fiji’s climate champion calls for stronger governance, private-sector partnerships, and budget-focused action to drive sustainable development

Summary: At the National Climate Action Dialogue, Inia Seruiratu urged Fiji and other developing nations to balance economic needs with environmental protection, push for fairer responsibilities under the Paris Agreement, and move climate commitments into Parliament and the national budget.

Inia Seruiratu, Fiji’s climate advocate, told attendees at the National Climate Action Dialogue that sustainable development in developing countries hinges on effective strategies to tackle climate change. He warned that many nations are sacrificing progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals to chase urgent economic gains, a pattern he says damages the very environments communities depend on.

He said Fiji, like its peers, currently harms the environment through logging, burning, and overuse of natural resources as a result of prioritizing short-term monetary gains. Seruiratu highlighted Article 2.2 of the Paris Agreement as a framework to promote fairness in responsibilities, acknowledging that countries’ duties differ based on national circumstances and capabilities.

To sustain progress, Seruiratu emphasized a change in mindset—embracing sustainable development as a long-term goal rather than a quick fix. He quoted the core principle that sustainable development means meeting present needs without compromising tomorrow’s opportunities, and he pointed to practical gaps such as fragmentation within government, lack of coordination, and gaps in ownership and leadership.

Acknowledging Fiji’s strides, Seruiratu noted the enactment of the Climate Change Act and the National Climate Change Policy as important foundations. He stressed that once a framework exists, the focus must shift to concrete next steps that translate commitments into action.

A key development he cited is Section 92 of the Climate Change Act, which enables the Minister to establish a private sector-focused committee. This provision, he said, is essential for forging stronger public-private partnerships and mobilizing diverse resources to advance climate action.

Cyclone Winston’s devastation in 2016 remains a powerful lesson for Fiji. Seruiratu said the experience has driven a more strategic approach to resilience in development planning, ensuring that climate adaptation is embedded in policy and budgeting processes rather than treated as a separate expenditure.

Moving forward, he affirmed Fiji’s aim to lead in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. He also stressed the importance of strengthening legislation and budgeting to reduce reliance on external financing, underscoring the need for tighter oversight of global commitments.

A central demand from Seruiratu is to present nationally determined contributions in Parliament for debate, reinforcing the Parliament’s oversight role. He pointed out that while Fiji regularly submits progress reports on the SDGs, those achievements have not been discussed in Parliament—a gap he called critical to close in order to ensure accountability and informed decision-making.

The discussion around governance and finance aligns with broader regional and international conversations. Recent COP discussions and Fiji’s ongoing climate diplomacy underscore the push for greater climate finance and support for small island developing states. Officials have flagged targets and mechanisms for mobilizing funds that will help communities adapt, build resilience, and pursue sustainable growth.

In addition to policy reforms, Seruiratu’s remarks reflect a broader vision for integrating indigenous knowledge with modern sustainability practices, strengthening cross-sector collaboration, and delivering tangible benefits to Fijian communities. By linking climate commitments to parliamentary oversight and budgetary planning, Fiji aims to turn ambition into measurable improvements for people and ecosystems alike.

Looking ahead, the dialogue’s call for decisive action, stronger partnerships, and disciplined investment signals a hopeful path: with robust governance, inclusive collaboration, and sustained financing, Fiji can advance sustainable development while protecting its people from the growing impacts of climate change.