By RIYA BHAGWAN
Surrounded by the playful cheers and constant calls of her children, Makareta sat cross-legged in her modest home, her thoughts heavy with concern for the kids in the community, situated 15 minutes from the capital city.
The Muanivatu Settlement in Vatuwaqa, Suva, is a heavily populated community nestled in a mangrove swamp with a tributary winding out to sea. The community has always been prone to flooding, but, according to Makareta, the situation has noticeably worsened in recent years.
“After the floodwaters go down, the kids start getting these awful skin diseases,” she said, her voice laced with worry.
According to the mother of four, the children in the community have been suffering from illnesses such as skin diseases and stomach problems like diarrhea more frequently.
Almost every family in the community is affected in a settlement of people who are drawn to the capital city Suva because of work opportunities.
However, life is still a struggle because of the cost of living and also, according to the residents, due to their changing natural environment, which is making them more vulnerable to flooding than before.
Another Muanivatu resident is also tired of the continuous rain and flooding. According to 33-year-old Wainikiti Kuru, the incessant rain was depressing as it worsened their living conditions in what was already a swampy area.
“When it rains, it’s continuous. The whole area gets flooded, and because my house is not elevated, the water comes straight in. That’s why we’ve decided to rebuild our home,” said Kuru.
Some studies, such as the Climate Risk Profile: Fiji CAPA (Climate Adaptation and Protected Areas) Report released in March this year, blame changing weather patterns.
The report stated that more extreme weather events have been observed in Fiji, including stronger cyclones, frequent droughts, and periods of excessive rainfall. The report highlights that Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016 was the most powerful cyclone ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere, affecting more than 540,000 people and causing $US900 million in damage. The second cyclone that damaged 2000 homes and caused $US22.6m in losses was TC Harold in April 2020.
Families have been displaced and had to be relocated to a different place as a result of the changing weather patterns.
According to the Fiji Climate Change Portal, the Fijian Government has successfully relocated six climate-vulnerable communities to safer grounds since 2011 to address climate-induced displacement, at a cost of $3.6m. Four villages were in Vanua Levu, one in the Western Division, and one in Kadavu.
In an interview with Wansolwara Online, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Permanent Secretary Dr Sivendra Michael stated that they were aware of the struggles of the people due to the possible effects of climate change.
Dr Michael said rehabilitation and relocation faced challenges due to financial constraints.
Most Muanivatu residents are low-income earners who struggle to make ends meet, with hardly any money to repair or rebuild their homes damaged by floods. Most dwellings are in a poor and fragile state and would not be able to withstand cyclones, which, according to some reports, are becoming more frequent and ferocious.
Similar to the experiences of these Muanivatu residents, communities in some other parts of Fiji are also struggling with the aftermath of flooding caused by both river-related and heavy-rain-induced events.
Prominence in global climate discussions
Fiji has long been a prominent voice in global climate discussions, leveraging its vulnerability to the climate crisis to secure substantial international support.
At the 61st Munich Security Conference this year, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka urged world leaders to prioritize the climate crisis, highlighting its devastating impact on vulnerable South Pacific nations.
Yet, despite global backing and various national efforts, Fiji’s progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 13 – climate action – is falling short in meeting some of its climate action goals and 2030 targets. Other Pacific Island countries are also struggling with this goal.
The latest Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2025 reveals that SDG 13 is the goal that is lagging the most in the region, even though it is deemed the most important goal.
The report indicates that Fiji has been progressing in terms of meeting its climate action goal; however, it also highlights the critical need for accelerated efforts to meet the 2030 target.
Another study, the 2023 Voluntary National Review (VNR) states that Fiji needs to ramp up efforts to strengthen resilience and capacity, while also reinforcing its national climate policies.
Public pleas on progress
Janet Reddy, a former Fiji resident and outspoken climate youth advocate, blames the government for its alleged lack of tangible action in tackling the pressing climate-related issues.
“Take government officials travelling to international climate negotiations, for example,” the 21-year-old said. “I get that these events raise awareness, and Fiji has built a strong reputation as a climate leader, but at what point do we say, ‘Okay, enough talk – let’s put more of these resources into action on the ground’?”
Reddy acknowledged the government’s ongoing efforts but stressed the urgent need for a re-evaluation of the nation’s approach to tackling climate change.
“I think that given the resources Fiji has, it just needs to re-pivot its stance on how they are dealing with the climate crisis,” she noted.
Another youth advocate, Mishek Nair, a master’s student in climate change at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, explained that improved infrastructure is a key concern for communities.
He noted that strengthening infrastructure like housing impacts people’s capacity and capability to adapt to the effects of climate change.
According to Nair, the lack of focus on building infrastructure to withstand climate change was a major weakness. He acknowledged that climate financing was critical for building resilience.
“There is a strong need to build national capacity in accessing climate financing to meet the 2030 targets,” Nair said.
A third youth climate change advocate, 22-year-old Meri Delai’s plea is simple: “The government should visit these communities more often so that they can see and know what’s going on.”
Delai’s words echo the call of many on the frontlines of changing weather patterns, urging more government engagement and action to drive progress, instead of just focusing on big international conferences and meetings.
Roadblocks to progress
According to Dr Michael, when COVID-19 crisis hit, borders were closed and economic activity slowed, forcing communities already impacted by climate change to rely on alternative adaptation and resilience strategies for survival.
“The other major issue was that we had to pace out work on relocation and mitigation. The raw materials needed for these efforts aren’t produced locally; we rely on imports. But with strict quarantine measures and border closures during the pandemic, everything took longer,” the PS added.
Dr Michael stressed that climate change does not wait. “While our work was delayed, communities were left to adapt with whatever limited resources they had. The restrictions also meant we couldn’t reach them to offer support when it was most needed.”
He also voiced concern over the lengthy and complex procedures for accessing the Green Climate Fund, the world’s largest UN fund for climate action, with an allocation of $US50.6m.
He highlighted that the suspension of the Environment and Climate Adaptation Levy (ECAL) on tourism revenue during the pandemic further compounded the challenges, cutting off a key source of climate funding.
“People are living in tents – this is their reality,” he said. “This is what I have been telling them: climate funding must be tailored to the Pacific’s needs and should be practical and easily accessible to provide immediate relief.”
Climate projections for Fiji continue to paint a grim picture, and for those on the frontlines, the need for urgent, accelerated action has never been more pressing.
Riya Bhagwan is a third-year Journalism student at The University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus.
