Fiji faces significant development challenges, and the government has set ambitious development objectives to address them. Natural hazards and climate change, however, represent a major obstacle to the achievement of these objectives. Tropical cyclones have already shown they can affect GDP growth in a significant manner. In the future, the cost of natural hazard-induced disasters is likely to increase, driven by socioeconomic trends—such as increasing urbanization and littoralization (increasing concentrations of development along coastlines)—and climate change. In addition, other parallel impacts of climate change, such as sea-level rise, ocean acidification, or the spread of infectious diseases into new areas, may also affect development outcomes and options.
Climate Vulnerability Assessment: Making Fiji climate resilient seeks to inform development planning and investment decisions in the Republic of Fiji. It pilots a methodology - one that is replicable in other countries - to assess climate and disaster vulnerability and design climate change adaptation and risk management plans and strategies.
The report aims to produce a better understanding of the threat that natural hazards and climate change create for the country’s Development Plan and objectives. In analyzing the climate vulnerability of Fiji, this study considers two dimensions: (1) the physical threats to the country created by natural variability and climate change, including shocks such as tropical cyclones and floods as well as longer-term stressors like sea-level rise and temperatures’ impacts on health; and (2) development needs and opportunities of the country, as described in Fiji’s 20-year and 5-year Development Plan. The analysis identifies threats that could jeopardize Fiji’s development needs and opportunities, and the interventions that could minimize or manage these threats.