2016 will be a busy year for the European Union with a commitment of 250 million euros on climate change projects here in Fiji and the region.
Part of the plan includes working with the Fijian government on the relocation of vulnerable communities.
676 villages in Fiji are threatened by climate change.
The effects of climate change involves the loss of coastal land and infrastructure through erosion, flooding and the threat of storm surges.
Government said out of the 676 communities identified, 42 have the potential to be relocated in the next five to 10 years.
” Its a sad fact of life that in Fiji and around the Pacific more and more of these relocation is going to take place. I think Fiji is lucky in it that its a hilly mountainous country most of it so people are not going to have to leave the country, have to migrate but they’ll have to move locally but other Pacific Island countries do face the possibility of their population having migration” said Andrew Jacobs – EU Ambassador Pacific
Following the Global Agreement at the Climate Change Summit held in Paris late last year, the European Union is focusing on strong development cooperation support.
This is especially in mitigation and adaptation to climate change around the Pacific.
” Pacific Island countries were very strong in Paris, were very vocal and got their message across with the Prime Minister of Fiji but also Tony de Brum Minister from the Marshall Islands. We had the PM, of Tuvalu, President of Kiribati all very vociferous in Paris and I think it was partly because of the strong alliance between EU and the Pacific ” said Jacobs
The European Union is closely working with the Pacific in the fight against climate change.