A RADIO show on climate change that hit the airwaves at a tertiary institute earlier this month is causing ripples among students.
University of the South Pacifics Tali Magimagi radio show producers Jope Tarai and Rosiana Lagi said students were organising a group to not only research but to also visit vulnerable communities and be involved in educating and assisting with issues related to climate change.
The show is aired for listeners in the Suva and Nausori corridor from 1pm to 2pm every Thursday on Radio Pasifiks FM89.4.
Tali Magimagi in English means to weave sinnet but the producers use its metaphorical meaning, which is to weave knowledge from an audience of all ages and weave the best of traditional knowledge and modern knowledge of climate change.
The show, Mr Tarai and Ms Lagi said, was the result of the lack of a sense of urgency among Fijians towards climate change.
For instance, after Professor Nunn (2007) highlighted that Nadi town should be relocated because it may go underwater by 2027, no one has taken him seriously, they said.
Therefore, people and infrastructure are flooded and the cost of rehabilitating their lives/ reconstructing the infrastructure is more expensive than if they had moved.
Also people are not taking serious actions to mitigate climate change, for instance, instead of replanting trees we are cutting down trees to build infrastructure or mine it.
While some organisations are implementing adaptation programs for instance Wildlife Conservation Society, Econesian Society, WWF and Survival Pasifika, there is still a lack of awareness and sense of urgency amongst the public on what climate change is.