A first ever National Summit for Building Resilience to Climate Change, is underway in Labasa in the Northern Division where an array of stakeholders will be showcasing local initiatives to climate change.
This summit follows Cabinet’s endorsement of the ‘Fiji National Climate Change Policy’ earlier this year. The policy is a result of exhaustive and extensive consultations across all sectors and through all levels. It policy provides direction on national positions and priorities on climate change.
For Fijians, the Fiji National Climate Change Policy is of vital importance as this will greatly impact the agriculture and tourism sector, which are often affected by natural disasters.
In opening the Summit, the Tui Macuata Ratu Aisea Katonivere highlighted four priority areas to assist in strategizing resilience. They are Prioritize training among stakeholders, cooperation and Partnership, commutating our strategies and instituting the right attitude amongst all Fijians.
“Vanua Levu is the second largest island and is home to 18% of Fiji’s population. Encompassing Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata provinces, our communities are currently impacted by climate change (CC) through water shortage, salt water intrusion, coastal erosion, extreme weather and flooding. Limited economically, industry is based around climate sensitive outputs primarily agriculture, fisheries and timber”, Ratu Katonivere said
Ratu Aisea who is an conservation advocate said government's “Look North” Policy, (now Vanua Levu Development Plan (VLDP) 2010-2014) aims to bolster Fiji’s economy through infrastructure development to attract investment. Proposed developments include power generation (hydropower and biomass), bauxite mining with associated increase in population, expanding town and port facilities in Bua and Macuata, expanding agricultural production and increasing logging. He says that Prudence dictates that these must consider the implications of Climate Change on economic viability.
A host of speakers will share their experiences, lessons, approaches, tools and how they assess, address and manage the unfavourable impacts of climate change.
The summit is aimed at Strengthening Community Adaptation and Mitigation Measures to Effects of Climate Change in Fiji. The first day of the summit offers a diverse range of plenary and Understanding the meaning of Mainstreaming/Mainstreaming and Climate Change Adaptation
The three day summit ends on Thursday 25th October 2012.