Fiji: Raising the voice of communities

The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission has documented the experiences and adverse impacts of climate change on communities across Fiji. Many of these communities – whether the villages are in coastal, rural or maritime areas – have been identified by the government for relocation. In addition, the Commission worked with communities to raise awareness about the new Climate Change Act and discussed whether the law was able to adequately address their individual and collective concerns.

Snapshot: Climate change and Fiji

• Since 2012, six villages in Fiji have been relocated because of rising sea levels. More are expected to follow.
• Fiji will experience increasingly destructive storms and cyclones, as well as damage to farmlands from saltwater entering coastal villages.
• Higher average temperatures are expected to result in higher rates of disease among the Fijian population.
• The economic damages from climate change will cost Fiji approximately four percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

Background

Fiji, like all Pacific Island nations, is vulnerable to the escalating impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels, flooding and powerful storm events. In February 2016, Fiji was struck by Cyclone Winston, one of the most powerful tropical cyclones on record, which took the lives of 44 Fijians. 

Climate change adaptation and mitigation have since been an urgent political priority, culminating in the passage of the Climate Change Act in 2021. Under the Act, more than 40 ‘at risk’ villages across Fiji have been identified for relocation. The process for relocation was detailed in Standard Operating Procedures released by the Fijian Government in early 2023. A key aspect of the Climate Change Act is its anti-discrimination provisions.

Responding to the adverse impacts of climate change on the human rights of individuals and communities is also a priority for the Commission. A broad program of work has been developed under the Commission’s 2022-2027 Strategic Plan to mainstream human rights in laws, policies and practices, as well as deliver engaging and relevant human rights education. 

The scoping study to document the challenges facing coastal, rural and maritime communities is a vital contribution by the Commission on an issue of national importance. Drawing on its findings, the Commission will explore opportunities to coordinate across government, and with Pacific IGMs, so the human rights priorities of communities are reflected in climate change-related laws, policies and actions.

National activity

The Commission objectives for the national activity were to:

• Produce information for communities on human rights and climate change, including on the Climate Change Act
• Consult communities in coastal, rural and maritime zones and collect their views on how climate change is impacting their human rights
• Promote coordination between government agencies and IGMs to ensure the human rights concerns and priorities of communities are integrated in the planning and implementation of climate change laws, policies and actions.

Preliminary engagement

To be effective, this activity required the willing participation of communities in the Commission’s consultations. To build trust and engagement, it was essential for the Commission to contact the relevant provincial administrator and seek permission to enter the village and conduct the consultations. 

Commission staff were also required to follow the necessary cultural protocols and dress codes for each village. Personalised letters were sent to provincial administrators and village leaders in December 2022, ahead of the proposed consultation period from January to April 2023.

Building support and buy-in from the provincial administrator and village leader – the Turaga-ni-Koro – at the outset provided communities with time to prepare for the Commission’s visit. This included identifying individuals to share their experiences and insights. 

People of different ages and backgrounds – children and youth, older persons, women and persons with disabilities – were prepared and available to meet with Commission staff and complete the questionnaire. This ensured a rich diversity of perspectives could be collected in the scoping study.

Plain-language resources

Prior to the consultations, the Commission produced a plain-language brochure on the right to a healthy environment, including human rights protections in the Constitution and the new Climate Change Act. The brochure was available in English and Fijian. 

In addition, the Commission produced a poster on the right to a clean and healthy environment. These resources were distributed to Commission partners and stakeholders, as well as shared with people in villages visited by the Commission.

Consultations

Fiji comprises an archipelago of more than 300 islands – of which approximately 100 are permanently inhabited – divided into 15 provinces. To carry out the consultations, Commission staff travelled to villages in eight of Fiji’s provinces. All nine Commission staff members, regardless of their role, were involved in the consultations.

The consultations were conducted between January and April 2023. This is Fiji’s ‘wet season’, with heavy rain and storms common. Despite the challenges this created for travel, especially to remote islands, the Commission held consultations in 27 villages.