Fiji has seen a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions over the past 25 years, according to the first-ever experimental climate change statistics report released this month by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics.
The report which combines data from across government agencies, highlights that net emissions in Fiji rose from 1,274 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 1994 to a peak of 2993 tonnes in 2015.
Even though emissions have reduced slightly to 2315 in 2019, the statistics highlight the continuous challenge Fiji faces in trying to strike the right balance between development and its climate change commitments.
The energy sector continues to dominate as the largest emitter, accounting for 91.92 per cent of net emissions in 2019.
Agriculture, waste, and industrial activity also contribute significantly to the entire mix, while forestry and land utilisation initiatives have assisted in offsetting more than a third of total emissions.
Fiji has committed to reach net-zero by 2050, in adherence to the National Climate Change Policy and the Paris Agreement.
The country also aims to generate 100 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
Renewable energy gains
Hydropower continues to dominate Fiji’s renewable energy mix, producing 1.9 petajoules of electricity in 2023.
Solar and wind together accounted for just 2.9 per cent of total production.
Overall, renewable sources contributed around 35 per cent of electricity generation in recent years.
A clear urban-rural divide exists in energy access.
While 98 per cent of urban households are connected to the national grid, only 83 per cent of rural households have the same access.
As a result, rural communities are turning to solar home systems (14 per cent) and solar lanterns (16 per cent) at much higher rates than urban areas.
Slow shift to green vehicles
The transport sector is a major source of emissions and urban pollution.
Although the number of newly registered semi- and fully electric vehicles has increased, they still represent a small fraction of the total, which has been rising from 2.4 per cent in 2022 to 4.6 per cent in 2024.
More than 150,000 vehicles were registered in Fiji by the end of 2024, with cars and vans making up the majority.
Older, high-emitting vehicles continue to operate in significant numbers on Fiji’s roads, particularly those that fall in the heavy-duty category, which includes buses and trucks, showing a slow progress in advancing towards greener transport.
Waste and disaster resilience
Waste generation has grown faster than the population, increasing by 17.5 per cent between 2013 and 2023.
Per capita waste rose from 188 kg to 216 kg per person over the same period.
Disaster impacts have also intensified.
In 2021, disasters including tropical cyclones and COVID-19 have resulted in 711 deaths or missing persons, the highest on record since 2005.
Tropical Cyclone Winston alone affected over 540,000 people in 2016.
Nature-based solutions
According to the Bureau, Fiji is investing in nature-based solutions to enhance carbon sinks.
The Ministry of Forestry has committed to planting 30 million trees by 2034, and forest harvesting licenses have decreased significantly in recent years.
A forward path
This inaugural climate report is part of a broader effort by the statistics agency to improve data quality and support evidence-based policy.
The Bureau says it plans to release updated statistics annually and welcomes public feedback on future priorities.
As Fiji continues to navigate its dual goals of development and decarbonisation, robust data will be essential to track progress, mitigate risks, and protect vulnerable communities from the escalating impacts of climate change.
Assistant Minister in the Prime Minister Office Sakiusa Tubuna, left, and representatives from NGOs plant a tree during the Earth Day in Suva. Picture: FIJI GOVERNMENT
According to the report, renewable sources contributed around 35 per cent of
electricity generation in recent years. Picture: THE COMMONWEALTH
