PRIME Minister Voreqe Bainimarama today launched Fiji’s first National Adaptation Plan offering a blueprint for the country’s adaptation measures.
Launched at the in Katowice, Poland, the venue of COP24, the comprehensive document emphases a whole-of-economy approach.
According to Mr Bainimarama, this aligns with Fiji’s National Climate Change Policy and other key strategies such as the National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy, the Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Green Growth Framework.
“Nothing is more important to us as climate-vulnerable nations than to have the means to adequately adapt to the frightening new era that is upon us – the extreme weather events, rising seas and changes to agriculture caused by climate change,” he said.
Mr Bainimarama said this involved a continuous and progressive process to ensure a systematic and strategic approach to adaptation in all government decision-making.
“We are placing a particular emphasis on agriculture, fisheries, biodiversity, health and a range of adaptation action in all of our communities, from our cities to small rural and maritime communities,” he said.
“These range from building sea walls and relocating communities threatened by rising seas to strengthening our infrastructure through improved building codes to withstand the extreme weather events that are becoming more frequent and intense.”
Dr. Adrian Fenton and the National Adaptation Plan Global Network providing technical and financial support the development of the document.
The governments of the United States and Canada also assisted with the project.
While hard copies of the National Adaptation Plan was made available at the event, members of the public can access it on the Ministry of Economy website www.economy.gov.fj.
“What you will find there is a Above all, it places our adaptation strategy at the core of Fiji’s five and 20 year National Development Plan,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“So it is a holistic approach to reducing risk and stresses the critical importance of our response to the climate threat being as efficient as it can possibly be.”
He said the Fijian Adaptation Plan stressed the importance of improving efficiency across the whole of government to provide better coordination and increase our ability to mobilise our resources.
Formulating the plan was inclusive exercise involving a wide range of stakeholders in government, civil society and the private sector, Mr Bainimarama added.
