DPM MANOA KAMIKAMICA'S SPEECH AT THE LAUNCH OF FIJI’S STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) FOR PLANNED RELOCATION

New Zealand Minister for Climate Change, Hon. James Shaw,
German Special Envoy to the Pacific, H.E Beate Grzeski,
Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
Bula Vinaka, and a very good evening to you all.
 
I’m pleased to welcome you all as we launch Fiji’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the Planned Relocation of Communities that have been impacted by climate change.
 
I have been advised that we have relocated 6 communities so far, and significant lessons have been learnt from the exercise, which now form the basis of this SOP. The hope of course is that the SOP manual will lead to effective coordination of government efforts, and more importantly, to make the transition of affected communities to their new homes as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
 
We all know that Fiji is a small island developing state, that is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Rising sea levels, increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events, changes to our natural ecosystems, and changes in weather patterns threaten our homes, our communities, and our way of life.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen, relocation is not something we want to do. It is a last resort, a response to the most extreme impacts of climate change. Relocation nevertheless is something we must plan for, because the reality is that some of our communities will become uninhabitable in the years to come.

That is what science tells us, so to relocate is not a decision that we take lightly, as it involves uprooting entire communities and disrupting their way of life.
 
The People’s Coalition Government under Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is committed to ensuring that those who are forced to move due to the impacts of climate change, are treated with dignity and respect, and that they have access to the support they need to rebuild their lives.
 
The SOP we are launching this evening will be piloted in the relocation of the village of Nabavatu in the Province of Macuata, due to damage wrought by Tropical Cyclone Yasa in December, 2020. The relevant government agencies have been working closely with the affected community to identify suitable relocation sites, and to ensure that their cultural, social, and economic values and needs are taken into account.
 
A total of 42 communities have identified their need for relocation, which will be assessed and verified through tools that are a part of the SOP.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen, climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. But it is also an opportunity for us to come together, to innovate, and to build a more resilient and sustainable future for our nation.
 
Let us embrace this challenge with courage, determination, and hope. And let us never forget that no matter what happens, we will always be one Fiji, one people, united in our commitment to protect our home and our future.
 
We look forward to the continued support of our development partners and stakeholders in undertaking the enormous task of planned relocation.
 
Excellences and Friends, I now have great pleasure to officially launch Fiji’s Standard Operating Procedure for Planned Relocation.
 
Vinaka Vakalevu, and thank you.