Fiji: Climate Vulnerability Assessment

Context and Objectives

The Fiji Climate Vulnerability Assessment was implemented by the World Bank with the Ministry of Economy of Fiji. The objective of the project was to carry out a climate vulnerability assessment for Fiji and develop recommendations to inform Fiji’s investment planning process. The initiative helped inform the national development priorities, and its investment and development plan for the next 5, 10 and 20 years. The project can also strengthen Fiji’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). 

Main Activities and Results

The final report "Climate Vulnerability Assessment: Making Fiji Climate Resilient" was delivered and included projections of the potential impacts of climate change on Fiji in the coming decades, and analyses its impact on the economy, health, and food security. Key points from the report include:

• The number of Fijians being pushed into poverty and hardship could increase from 25,700 people per year to an estimated 32,400 per year by 2050.
• The growing cost of climate change-related disasters is likely to significantly rise, with projections that climate change could result in floods and cyclones leading to asset losses up to 30 percent higher than current averages.
• And that to reduce Fiji’s climate vulnerability – through a range of measures such as strengthening towns and cities, improving infrastructure, agriculture and fisheries – it would cost an estimated FJ$9.3 billion (US$4.5 billion) over 10 years.

The report furthermore sets out clear priorities and recommendations that can inform the national development priorities, in particular Fiji's sector investment plans for the short-, medium- and long term. The assessment methodology may be replicated through the Small Island States Resilience Inititiave (SISRI) in other Pacific Island Countries and Small Island Developing States.

The report helped build advocacy on the vulnerability of Fiji to climate change and was launched at the UNFCCC COP23 under Fiji's historical presidency of this major global events. The report was complemented by a 360-degree virtual reality film "Our Home, Our People."

Useful Links

The final report of the Climate Vulnerability Assessment can be accessed here.

A video accompanying the final report is available here.

A Results in Resilience Feature Story on the Fiji Climate Vulnerability Assessment is available here.