FNU Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba (right) and Monash University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Senior Vice-President, Professor Rebekah Brown during the PACT research centre launch earlier this year.
An international research centre tackling climate change in the Pacific region from a uniquely business perspective has welcomed a $2 million funding commitment from the Fiji Government.
Launched in March this year, the Pacific Action on Climate Transitions (PACT) is a partnership between the Fiji National University (FNU) and Monash University’s Monash Business School.
PACT is focusing on the critical links between business and climate change and finding real-world solutions for communities at the frontline of our changing environment.
It will aid policy makers looking to effectively fund mitigation and adaptation measures in the Pacific region and beyond, as well as providing high-quality training and capacity building.
Announcing its 2023 Budget, the Fiji Government has allocated PACT $2 million in funding.
When introducing the budget in Parliament, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Hon. Professor Biman Prasad stated that “[Fiji’s] very existence depends on us, all working together to solve the critical problems posed by climate change and environmental degradation”.
Professor Prasad said: “The funding allocation to PACT was to facilitate co-designed projects between academia, civil society and the Ministries that will build resilience in response to climate change, strengthen the Fijian economy and contribute to Fiji’s regional leadership in addressing climate change.”
Fiji National University (FNU), Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba said, “As the national university, we are extremely thankful to the Government of the day for their funding commitment towards PACT.”
“This is a testament of the Government’s commitment to working towards exceptional research in the areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation – which will benefit not only numerous Fijian families and communities but the entire Pacific Region.”
Head of Monash Business School Professor Simon Wilkie said: ”This generous support from the Fiji Government underlines the importance of our partnership with the people of Fiji.
“PACT allows joint projects to take place between FNU and Monash University researchers that address the community well-being and economic resilience of citizens in the Pacific Region.”
“Monash University and Monash Business School are front runners in the concept of climate change finance, a burgeoning area of research, as part of the University’s research-led Impact 2030 strategy.
“Monash University’s other initiatives in the region, such as the World Mosquito Program and the Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE) program have already made a real difference to the lives of communities throughout the Pacific at the frontline of climate change impacts.”
FNU’s Acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation, Professor Paul Iji said, “The funding from the Fiji Government will assist the PACT centre in the fight against climate change.”
“FNU looks forward to contributing its complementary expertise and capabilities in agricultural production, environmental health, climate awareness and education as well as nature-based approaches to climate change adaptation within the Pacific region to proactively seek innovative solutions to climate change mitigation. Monash University will present the much-needed lens of the business and economic impacts of proposed climate actions.”
PACT Deputy Director Dr Seema Narayan said: “Our long-term plan for PACT is to provide urgently needed policies that governments in the Pacific Rim and around the world can use to design effective economic and social mitigation and adaptation policies.
“We welcome the Fiji Government’s support for this research, which we consider quite groundbreaking. Until now, very little climate change research has focused on the role of business and industry.”
Current PACT research projects include: