Global agreements, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Agenda 21, have recognized the uniqueness of the climate change challenges faced by small islands developing states, such as the Fiji Islands. But this awareness does not seem to translate in concrete policy measures on the ground—even in the countries that lobby for these policies. While Fiji is fully aware of the climatic challenges faced by their islands, these challenges do not seem to translate in the development policy adopted by the country and strategic priorities have been left unattended. Although Fiji created a national sustainable development strategy following the guidance of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the implementation of the strategy has lacked cohesion. In a country where resources are limited, the need to consider environment in decision-making has been left as an isolated task for Department of Environment only in relation to the management of resources of interest for tourism. Land use planning and forestry has been left outside of the sustainable development framework.
Adaptation to climate change and vulnerability reduction do not escape this trend. The Ministry of Planning has not mainstreamed environment planning in villages or cities, and industrial development –also highly susceptible to climate variation— places no value on environment at the time of making decisions. There are many reasons for this weakness, particularly a diminished role of the Department of Environment over the years; more responsibilities, such international conventions to report to and environmental impacts assessment to monitor, and less human resources to complete their work.
While the current Ministry is making significant efforts to correct the current deficiencies, the work of the environment branch will continue to work on a reactive mode until a long-term strategic vision is adopted and implemented by the Ministry. Poor communication and limited understanding of the environmental constraints by other branches of the government has let Fiji to believe that more cash and new technologies will solve all problems. But as sea level rises and severe storm become more frequent, how is money alone going to help?