Climate Change and Sea Level Rise: Fiji
Selected Issues Papers, May 30, 2025
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- Climate Change and Sea Level Rise: Fiji
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Bibliographic details
- Authors: Emanuele Massetti
- Published: May 30, 2025
- Series: Selected Issues Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229014304.018
Key findings and projections
- Sea-level rise (SLR) could cause annual economic losses averaging 1.8% of GDP from 2020 to 2099.
- Widespread coastal protection measures limit damages but are costly and may not yield significant net savings.
- Planned retreat can reduce net costs by over 80%.
- The analysis broadly supports the Government of Fiji’s adaptation strategy to SLR through a mix of protection and planned relocation.
Analysis and implications
- Trade-offs between protection and relocation:
- Coastal protection reduces immediate damages but entails high costs and uncertain net benefits.
- Planned retreat offers substantially larger reductions in net costs (over 80%) and may be more efficient in many settings.
- Economic burden:
- The projected average annual loss of 1.8% of GDP from 2020 to 2099 highlights a persistent, long-term economic impact that requires policy response.
Policy recommendations
- Pursue efficient adaptation tailored to Fiji’s circumstances, combining:
- Targeted coastal protection where cost-effective.
- Planned relocation (planned retreat) where it yields superior net benefits, given its potential to reduce net costs by over 80%.
- Align national adaptation strategy with these efficiency principles while supporting the Government of Fiji’s existing approach of mixed protection and planned relocation.
Source: IMF Selected Issues Paper "Climate Change and Sea Level Rise: Fiji" by Emanuele Massetti (May 30, 2025).
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