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UEMI in Fiji

This paper reviews policy measures associated with Fiji’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions which were communicated to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2015. The paper highlights the Fijian government’s efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change impacts in the context of the New Urban Agenda. The paper also presents an overview of the transport, energy and waste sectors and reviews policy strategies and actions implemented by the city of Suva in the bid to promote environmentally sustainable development
Fiji is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean consisting of 330 islands and 500 islets, out of which 110 islands are inhabited. The country lies 1,850 km north of Auckland, New Zealand; and 2,800 km north-east of Sydney, Australia. The total land area of Fiji is about 18,700 square kilometres bounded by a huge economic zone of ocean covering 1.3 million square kilometres. The country has a total population of 898,760 as at 2016 growing at an annual rate of 0.73%. The share of the urban population in 2016 was estimated to be 54% with an upward growth rate of 1.4%.  Fiji’s capital, Suva, is the largest metropolitan area; and is located on the Viti Levu island which hosts about one third of the national population. Other large cities in Fiji include: Lautoka, Nadi, Labasa, Ba and Levuka. The country’s economic performance over the last decades has been oscillating due to global economic and financial shocks and natural disasters. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Fiji was projected at 4.7 Billion USD in 2016 with a growth rate of 0.3% and a GDP per capita of 5,233 USD. As a country whose economy has experienced unstable growth as a result of natural shocks possibly caused by climate change, Fiji has committed to promoting a sustainable development that inures to the general wellbeing of its citizens.

Transport
Fiji’s first national household travel survey conducted in 2015 revealed that 53% of all recorded trips were made entirely on foot, whilst trips made by public transport (using buses and mini-buses) accounted for 17%, private vehicle 17%, and taxi 6%. Other modes used by respondents include horses and boats. These figures suggest that road transport remains the most dominant motorized transport mode in Fiji. It is interesting to note that unlike the national figures which showed greater share (53%) for non-motorised transport (walking), urban areas in Fiji such as Suva, rather recorded greater use (63%) for motorized transport. In Suva, for instance, public transport provided by buses, mini-buses and taxis forms an integral part of the city’s transport system with bus services being the most used. The buses are reported in the Greater Suva Transportation Strategy, as old-aged vehicles which are noisy and emit substantial emissions that are environmentally detrimental to city dwellers. Like many other developing countries, Fiji is experiencing increasing vehicle ownership with a 43% increase in vehicle registration from 2002 to 2012. The road transport sector in Fiji is under the oversight of the Fiji Road Authority which was established in 2012 by a Government Decree. The Authority has the responsibility to develop all roads used for public transport as well as public jetties. Other stakeholder institutions relevant for the overall development of the transport sector in Fiji include: The Ministry of Finance; the Ministry of Works, Transport and Public Utilities; and the Ministry of Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment.
Fiji is a democratic republic and practices a parliamentary democracy with a single-chamber legislature parliament having 50 members directly elected by universal adult suffrage (The Commonwealth, 2018). As stipulated in its Constitution of 2013 which replaced that of 1997, Fiji’s government consists of the legislature (parliament), the executive and the judiciary. Governance in Fiji is generally participatory as citizens are given the right to fully partake in the economic life of the country (Government of Fiji, 2013a). The local government system in Fiji is enshrined in the country’s Local Government Act of 1985 which makes provisions for the involvement of citizens and civil society organizations in governance. At the urban level, the system is structured into Councils (2 City Councils and 11 Town Councils) all of which have the same responsibilities to promote the health, welfare and convenience of its inhabitants (Commonwealth Local Government Forum, 2018). These 13 Councils are overseen by the Ministry for Local Government, Housing and Environment. There exist other local authorities at the rural level consisting of 17 provincial councils under the Fijian Affairs Board and 14 rural local authorities which are super- intended by the National Board of Health. These rural authorities equally discharge their duties to improve the lives of inhabitants.

The delivery of socio-economic services to citizens in Fiji is largely undertaken by the Councils. For instance, in the management of waste, the Councils are mandated to ensure that household wastes are collected, transported and disposed of in a proper manner. Councils are also mandated to establish and maintain public utility services; provide public transportation and public works; carry out town planning activities, among others. In 2006, the Local Government Act (1985) was amended to allow Councils engage in partnerships and commercial joint ventures with other statutory bodies in the discharge of their development functions (Commonwealth Local Government Forum, 2018). With regards to participation in political governance processes, the Fijian government in its roadmap for the implementation of its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, recognized the importance of public participation in promoting climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. The roadmap also acknowledges and emphasizes on private sector involvement in the implementation of environmentally sound programmes and projects which are expected to help the country achieve its climate change goals and objectives (Fiji Ministry of Economy, 2017).
Fiji’s capital, Suva, is the largest metropolitan area; and is located on the Viti Levu island which hosts about one third of the national population. The 2014 population of Suva is estimated at 182,140 with an annual growth rate of 0.8% (Atlas of Urban Expansion, 2016). According to Phillips and Keen (2016), the urban population of Suva had increased by 5% between the years 2002 and 2010. As the administrative and political capital of Fiji, Suva is experiencing the pressure of rapid urbanization. Like many urban areas in developing countries, Suva is faced with resultants effects of rapid urbanization such as unemployment, inadequate socio-economic services and growing formation of informal settlements.

Urban Transport in Suva
It is interesting to note that unlike the national figures which showed greater share (53%) for non-motorised transport (walking), Suva, has a greater (63%) share for motorized transport. In Suva, public transport provided by buses, mini-buses and taxis forms an integral part of the city’s transport system with bus services being the most used. The buses are old-aged vehicles which are noisy and emit substantial emissions that are environmentally detrimental to city dwellers (Fiji Roads Authority, 2014). In order to promote sustainable transportation in Suva, therefore, the Fiji Roads Authority in collaboration with relevant national and local stakeholders has formulated the Greater Suva Transportation Strategy with the vision “to have an integrated and sustainable transport system that contributes to an inclusive, prosperous and environmentally responsible region” for the period 2015 to 2030. The strategy is expected to address the following key issues: traffic congestion, enforcement and regulation, bus infrastructure and routes, quality transport infrastructure, road safety, driver education and awareness (Fiji Roads Authority, 2014).
Fiji’s government continues to engender climate change responsible transportation policy developments including its Sustainable Urban Transport Index (SUTI) and strategy climate friendly infrastructure development.  In October 2018, Fiji’s government, along with the Fiji Development Bank, announced electric public bus transportation as a priority for investment – this is in keeping with national policy to scrap public transport buses and replace them with cleaner more efficient fleet. The current fleet is obsolete and responsible for much of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. The World Bank supported the government through a preliminary study, financed by Japanese funds, QII-JIT. In collaboration with Tebara Transport Limited the government of Fiji is in the process of introducing electric buses into the country. Importing initially 20 buses from China in 2019 with a plan to add 20 more to the fleet later on. These buses are to be battery rechargeable and will rely on the use of solar energy for charging instead of electricity from Energy Fiji Limited Grids. Currently, 82% of all vehicles (mostly 2nd hand) coming into Fiji originating from Japan. There are 62 bus companies in Fiji serve a quarter of the almost one million population on daily basis. Bus transport is a profit driven dependable business model and does not rely on government subsidies. Currently, according to the World Bank’s study, there are 1,666 buses operating in Fiji.