Policy options for climate change loss and damage: A case study from Fijian agriculture

Abstract

Anthropogenic climate change loss and damage (L&D) includes adverse consequences of climate change due to sudden and slow-onset events despite the implementation of adaptation and mitigation measures. Given this context, this thesis aims to identify institutional and policy gaps in the understanding of L&D and critically evaluate opportunities for policy, planning, and funding mechanisms for anthropogenic climate change L&D within the sugar industry of Fiji. Through a grounded theoretical lens, qualitative research was used to gain in-depth insights into climate change L&D from cyclones and droughts in the Fijian sugar industry. In-depth semi-structured interviews (n=68) were conducted with farmers from two Indo-Fijian sugarcane communities, Barotu and Toko settlements in Western Viti Levu, Fiji, and with key stakeholders from government ministries, academia, and climate change experts at the national level. Additionally, policies at the national strategic level and the Ministry of Sugar Industry were examined to understand the degree to which climate change information has been mainstreamed into policy and action in the sugar industry. Vulnerability analysis in both Barotu and Toko settlements revealed a high vulnerability to cyclones and droughts. Cyclone and drought adaptation measures were implemented in Barotu and Toko settlements and by the Ministry of Sugar Industry. Adaptation measures ranged from bearing the effects of cyclones and droughts, reactive coping measures, incremental measures, and systems adaptation. Despite implementing adaptation measures, Fiji’s sugar industry has faced severe L&D from droughts and cyclones. L&D included loss of property, crops, and income. Farmers classified loss of homes and livestock as both economic losses and non-economic L&D (NELD) due to economic and sentimental significance. Other NELD included loss of place of worship, heightening of uncertainty, fear, and trauma. Cascading and flow-on effects included food insecurity risks and impact on children’s education. The severity of L&D experiences suggests that the communities have approached social and ecological limits and are living with intolerable risks and irreversible L&D. The findings also indicate that L&D, including NELD, are highly context-specific and depend upon local value systems, how people experience L&D, and how they deal with L&D. The Fijian Ministry of Sugar Industry lacks the capacity to respond to and address L&D. The lack of capacity is primarily due to insufficient climate change policies, lack of human resource capacity, limited adaptation technologies, lack of L&D data and tools, and lack of access to sufficient climate finance. This research highlights that to facilitate adequate adaptation that moderates or avoids harm and implementation of mechanisms to address L&D, attention must be paid to broader social, economic, and political processes at the international, national, sectoral, and community levels. The systematic documentation of L&D within vulnerable communities should improve understanding of L&D, including NELD, and assist to facilitate the mobilisation of urgent support and action to address L&D in countries that lack the capacities to respond independently. Therefore, this research recommends critical policy interventions to avert and minimise L&D such as livelihood and product diversification with access to new markets, developing risk profiles, mainstreaming climate change and disaster risk reduction issues into existing policies, as well as addressing L&D through enhancing institutional capacity to access climate finance.