The National Climate Change Policy is a national policy with a sectoral approach. The goals of this climate change policy are (i) to support the implementation of Fiji’s Roadmap for democracy and sustainable socio-economic development 2009–2014 under the People’s charter for change, peace and progress; (ii) to promote integration of climate change issues in national planning, budgeting and implementation processes; (iii) to provide guidance on government’s responses to climate change issues; (iv) to guide sectors to develop appropriate climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies; (v) to support requests to regional and international agencies to provide resources and assistance in addressing national climate change issues; and (vi) to contribute to Pacific regional actions and to meeting international commitments. The Policy addresses food security to determine its vulnerability to climate change, and consider these vulnerabilities in future policies and initiatives in terms of food production, food quality, nutritional availability, affordability and access. Measures will be taken to mitigate the effects of climate change, such as developing national, industrial, commercial and household energy efficiency programmes, promoting the use of renewable energy resources, supporting the enforcement of related legislation, reducing emissions from vehicles, and reducing fossil fuel consumption. In order to increase the resilience of Fiji’s communities to climate change and disasters, ecosystem-based approach will be supported, and assessments will be made regarding poverty, health and food security issues to determine their vulnerability to climate change. Furthermore related disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation strategies and actions will be integrated into national and sectoral planning to streamline responses. Vulnerability assessments and climate change impact projections will be included into resource management planning. The role of traditional knowledge will be taken into account in the phase of developing sustainable adaptation technologies and systems. Early warning systems will be strengthened to ensure effective and timely communication to the public, with particular attention paid to isolated, hazard-prone and disadvantaged areas. Hazard mapping of coastal, riverine, urban and inland areas will be developed by using the comprehensive hazard assessment and risk management tool to guide all development planning. Best practice adaptation measures will be implemented. The participation of all members of the community will be encouraged in the planning, management and implementation of adaptation measures. All sectors will support the implementation of relevant national adaptation strategies and plans, such as the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, the planned joint national action plan for CCA and DRM and the National Disaster Risk Management Plan. The Climate Change Unit will ensure the implementation of a national monitoring and evaluation tool to assess and improve on climate change integration in sectors, including enforcement of climate change-related legislation. Cooperative and coordinated agreements on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, as well as on reduction greenhouse gas emissions will be developed between sectors to ensure enforcement of the National Climate Change Policy. A mechanism will be established for climate change data and information to foster data accuracy and efficient information sharing, in collaboration with all relevant sectors and regional and international agencies. In order to use accurate and scientifically sound climate change-related data and information, the national weather and climate monitoring network will be strengthened, innovative and sustainable approaches will be adopted to data management, and collaboration will be established with relevant regional and international research and academic institutions to update climate change-related data and information. Awareness and understanding of climate change-related issues will be increased across all sectors and at all levels in Fiji, by conducting awareness-raising workshops and sessions for policy makers, decision makers and local and national planners on climate change issues, by establishing an effective communication and networking mechanism on climate change issues among government departments, NGOs, CBOs, faith-based organisations, municipal councils, the private sector, and professional and academic institutions, and by using communication technologies to conduct outreach activities related to climate change adaptation and mitigation. International and Pacific region participation will be promoted. Capacity building will be ensured by education and training programmes at all levels. Sustainable financing will be ensured for climate change efforts. The Climate Change Unit, in collaboration with implementing and lead agencies, will monitor the implementation of the policy and submit an annual progress report to the NCCCT and the National Environment Council (NEC) on the implementation of the policy. The policy implementation framework describes the policy strategies and identifies the agencies responsible for their implementation.
National Climate Change Policy.