The Fiji Government commended the Fiji National University (FNU) for advocating for climate change mitigation and adaptation practices.

This statement was made by the Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Honourable Sakiasi Ditoka during his visit to FNU’s Climate-U Participant Action Research Project (PARG) research site at Nadaro Village, Vugalei, Tailevu this month.

Honourable Ditoka officiated at the opening of a new bus stop that will facilitate the needs of people residing at Namara and Nadaro Village.

Nadaro Village is FNU’s research site, Climate-U Participant Action Research Project (PARG), where university staff have been engaged since September last year.

FNU’s Climate-U Project is part of an international alliance where universities engage in climate projects in 13 different universities led by University College London (UCL) via Professor Tristan McGowan.

The Fiji National University team outside the newly commissioned bus stop at Nadaro Village.

The Climate-U Project aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15, to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

“I think it is very helpful and useful that the people see that institutions such as the Fiji National University is doing its part in helping to preach the gospel of climate change. It is real; we need to take measures to protect ourselves from the effects of it,” Honourable Sakiasi Ditoka said.

“At Nadaro Village, you can see the effects of it. When it floods, it really floods the village and it is something that has just happened recently, it never used to happen before.”

“The fact that FNU is able to make the people of the village aware of climate change, what effects it has, and what they can do to protect and defend themselves is really useful, and that is something the Government is also thankful for.”

He further added that he had productive discussions with the community following the commissioning of the bus stop regarding proactive measures to assist the village.

“There was productive discussion with the villages on the challenges that they are currently facing, and I have challenged the people to help themselves by working on their development plan and their disaster management plans to be climate resilient.”

“From these plans, we can offer the village a pathway, from donor partners to Government officials, to assist the village with future major initiatives that they require assistance in.”

FNU staff have been part of community projects, inclusive of tree planting, water source enhancement via borehole and piping, alternative water sourcing and improvement work, drainage improvement, solar light installations, and water tanks installation.

FNU Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba stateed that Nadaro Village was listed as one of the villages in Fiji that have faced adverse effects of climate change.

“The Fiji National University has used the funding from the University College London to focus on this project here at Nadaro Village,” Professor Nabobo-Baba said.

“As a Professor at the University, I led a team from FNU to Nadaro Village to utilise this funding, and this is FNU’s first Climate-U Participant Action Research Project (PARG) site.”

“At the end of the month, the FNU team, in collaboration with partners, will complete its duty as a strong advocate of combatting climate change at the second site of the project, which is Naimasimasi Village in Tailevu.”

Nadaro Village Development Project Chairperson Isei Tuvou expressed gratitude to FNU for opening a door of opportunities for the village.

“The Fiji National University opened doors for Nadaro Village, they helped us connect with the right partners in the Government in regard to the requests that we need, the needs of the village,” Tuvou said.

“When FNU came in, we managed to be able to accomplish the completion of the walkway, bus stop, solar panel lights, water tank and a new sign for the village.”

“The bus stop was part of the bridge, the walkway, and this is the first time that the Government assisted us in building a bridge.”