The Fiji Council of Social Services says Fiji is increasingly at risk of losing lives to natural disasters and climate change.
Council executive director Vani Catanasiga told a panel discussion on COPs that the growing vulnerability of the country’s informal settlements, which are increasingly populated by people displaced by climate change, were the real frontline communities dealing with climate impacts.
“I think it goes back to the point of political will, the sense of urgency,” Ms Cakanasiga said.
“And I think many of our representatives are people who live in informal settlements, so they don’t feel that sense of urgency.
“So, it really is talking about bigger issues, our governance systems, are we happy with the way our electoral system is set up, all of these other issues.”
Ms Catanasiga said there was little attention given to issues facing informal settlements despite the significant risks they faced.
She said the movement of people into those settlements had left many vulnerable, with little support from government initiatives aimed at disaster preparedness.
“The loss of lives, any lives, is important and we want to prevent that.
“So, you’d be surprised at how they rank priorities in some decision-making spaces.
“A loss of life may not be something urgent. So we really have to continue to keep the Government accountable.”
Ms Catanasiga called on the Government to prioritise climate resilience at home rather than focus predominantly on global forums like COP.
She said that improving governance and addressing urgent local issues must be at the forefront of Fiji’s climate action agenda.