FIJI needs to move away from repeatedly repairing cyclone-damaged infrastructure and invest instead in climate-resilient roads, ports, power grids and water systems to minimise economic disruptions.
The World Bank Group’s Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) for Fiji highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to extreme weather, stressing the need for proactive planning and investment to strengthen national resilience.
The report says targeted investments are helping improve the resilience of transport infrastructure after decades of underfunding.
“Much greater attention is now being paid to infrastructure investments and critical maintenance,” it said.
“The policy framework targets expanding capital spending to $931.8million by 2030 to reverse past declines.
“Maintenance and renewals and resilience work account for most spending while 12 per cent will go to new capital. Budgeting for infrastructure maintenance plays a crucial role in mitigating impacts, steps are needed to modernise asset management.”
The report highlights the need to incorporate climate risks into infrastructure planning, including strengthening roads and bridges, protecting coastal transport links and ensuring essential services can withstand extreme weather.
Water security is another major concern, with Fiji’s economy and livelihoods heavily dependent on reliable water supplies.
“Fiji is a water dependent economy, but water resources are under pressure from drought, flood and growing demand.”
The report notes that about 45 per cent of Fiji’s jobs are linked to water-dependent sectors, including agriculture, tourism and fishing.
By 2050, water demand from tourism is projected to double, while demand from food processing and manufacturing is expected to increase by 20 per cent and agricultural demand by 50 per cent.
These pressures highlight the need for reliable water infrastructure that can withstand both droughts and flooding.
The CCDR stresses that climate risk assessments must be integrated into infrastructure development and public procurement to ensure new investments can withstand future climate conditions.
