Fiji’s Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Mosese Bulitavu, urged global leaders to act swiftly and with compassion to support communities grappling with displacement due to the escalating impacts of climate change. Speaking at a high-level dialogue titled “Enabling Positive Adaptation Journeys” at the Climate Mobility Pavilion during COP30 in Belém, Bulitavu highlighted that for Fiji and other small island developing states, climate mobility is not a future challenge; it is an urgent current reality.
Bulitavu stressed that communities in Fiji are already losing their ancestral lands, livelihoods, and cultural identity as rising sea levels and receding coastlines encroach upon them. “This is not a distant risk. It is the lived experience of our people and it demands a collective and compassionate response,” he emphasized.
The Minister presented a hopeful view of climate mobility, describing it not merely as a narrative of loss but as a chance to protect dignity, security, and hope for those affected. He called upon the global community to ensure that when displacement occurs, it is managed in a manner that is safe, fair, and respectful.
Outlining four key priorities to facilitate support for communities facing climate-induced displacement, Bulitavu highlighted:
1. **Regional Cooperation**: He praised the leadership displayed by the Pacific region through frameworks like the Pacific Regional Framework on Climate Mobility and the Boe Declaration on Regional Security, which aim to ensure that collective efforts address displacement with shared values.
2. **National Action**: Bulitavu shared how Fiji is proactively addressing the issue through its Climate Change Act 2021, which integrates rights and safeguards for affected communities. He mentioned Fiji’s Standard Operating Procedures for Planned Relocation that ensure careful and respectful community transitions.
3. **Evidence-Based Planning**: He highlighted the critical need for robust data in shaping effective adaptation strategies. Relevant assessments like Fiji’s Comprehensive Risk and Vulnerability Assessment and its work on Non-Economic Loss and Damage Assessment provide valuable insights into protecting community cohesion and cultural identity.
4. **Partnerships and Financing**: He emphasized the importance of the Climate Relocation of Communities Trust Fund as a model that empowers affected communities to lead their relocation processes. Bulitavu cautioned, however, that current global funding remains inadequate and called for dedicated and accessible support for climate mobility within the global adaptation finance framework.
“Our goal is simple yet profound — to ensure that those affected by climate change retain their dignity, agency, and hope,” he declared. Bulitavu reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to pursuing a global vision grounded in solidarity, urging all nations to respect the rights of affected communities to remain or relocate with dignity while striving for a future where no one is left behind.
Fiji’s proactive stance, as illustrated by these initiatives, offers encouragement and a model for overcoming the pressing challenges posed by climate change, underscoring the potential for collaboration and support that can lead to better outcomes for vulnerable populations.