THE economic impact of extreme weather events and climate change are undeniable and in most cases, extensive.
This was highlighted by Fiji’s High Commissioner to Australia Luke Daunivalu while speaking at the 25th Australia Fiji Business Forum in Brisbane, Australia last Thursday.
Mr Daunivalu said a discussion about the real impacts and threat of climate change would seem to circumscribe most things that happened around us today, including the economy and how businesses dealt with it.
“You would have noticed how Super Typhoon Hagibis wreaked havoc in Japan this past weekend with massive flooding, damage from strong winds and tornado. Rugby World Cup matches were cancelled and the Grand Prix delayed as a result. Lawsuits were threatened by a team,” he said.
“The climate change impact and toll on small economies like Fiji’s is huge. Warmer temperatures, stronger El Nino patterns together with sea level rise increase our nation’s susceptibility to deadly food-and-water-borne diseases.
“Saltwater intrusion from coastal flooding destroys farmland, disrupting the supply of staples in the economy and forcing migration.
“With warmer temperatures come the impact of ocean acidification, which adversely affect the health of our islands coral reef systems.
“This is in turn will impact our fishing and tourism industries.”
