On November 20, 2024, a side event titled "Building Science-Policy Interface to Promote Climate Policy Development: Case Study of Socio-Economic Benefit of Climate Services in Fiji" was held at the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion during COP29. The event was organised jointly by the Secretariat of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), under the ClimSA Programme funded by the European Union in the 11th European Development Fund (11th EDF). The event brought together experts, policymakers and stakeholders to explore the transformative potential of integrating climate science into policy-making, with a case study on the cost – benefit of climate services in Gross Domestic Production (GDP) for Fiji.

 

 

Climate change poses significant risks to livelihoods, ecosystems and development across regions such as the Pacific, Africa and the Caribbean. The ClimSA Programme has taken an innovative approach to address these challenges by enhancing the climate service value chain. This involves developing tailored climate services for sectors such as agriculture, disaster risk reduction and water resource management. A cornerstone of ClimSA’s contribution is the development of the Socio-Economic Benefit (SEB) tool, which assesses the economic and social benefits of using climate information services for building sustainable development and showing the value of investing in these services.

Ms Cristelle Pratt, Assistant Secretary-General for Environment and Climate Action at the OACPS Secretariat, inaugurated the event by emphasising the critical importance of science in shaping policies to strengthen climate resilience. She highlighted that timely and informed decisions not only save lives but also underpin sustainable development across OACPS regions, while guiding strategic investments in climate-sensitive sectors. Ms Pratt commended the ClimSA Programme for its contributions to closing gaps in the decision-making process and expressed hope that her region would fully leverage similar tools to foster climate resilience.

Dr Dieudonné Nsadisa Faka, the Team Leader of the ClimSA programme presented the ClimSA Science-Policy Interface framework. He explained that this framework integrates and translates scientific research outputs into policymaking through a value chain approach, emphasising stakeholder engagement, interdisciplinary research and capacity building. The use of Decision Support Systems (DSS) was highlighted as critical to address the challenges of complex climate data, uncertainties and long-term policy implications by integrating data, exploring scenarios and enhancing transparency. Practical applications, such as flood management strategies and DSS implementation, demonstrated how climate services can guide urban planning, agricultural productivity, disaster resilience and policy development. The presentation underscored how science serves as the best input for the policy development process in fostering sustainable climate adaptation and resilience across the region.

Mr Terry Atalifo, Regional Coordinator of the Pacific Regional Climate Centre hosted by SPREP, presented the results of the SEB model applied to Fiji. He discussed the socio-economic impacts of climate change in the two main economic sectors of Fiji, agriculture and tourism. He emphasised the importance of climate services for avoiding loss of resources, and adopting mitigation and adaptation strategies. He further highlighted the projected losses across key sectors under warming climate scenarios versus the normal climate conditions. According to the model, Fiji’s GDP could decline by $400 million by 2040 and drastically of $2.1 billion by 2100. Similarly, the agricultural sector would face losses of $195.4 million by 2040 and reaches four time more of the value of $890.7 million by 2100 due to reduced yields and increased vulnerabilities. The tourism sector is at risk from rising sea levels, with up to 0.5 meters of increase expected by the century’s end, leading to significant land loss. Mr Atalifo stressed the need for continued verification and customisation of climate models to improve resilience and secure sustainable development in vulnerable island states.

Ms Gina Bonne, Head of Climate Change and Environment at the IOC and Manager of the Hydromet Programme, which encompasses the ClimSA initiative, provided valuable insights into the Programme’s customised strategies for enhancing decision-making in her region. She also noted that while national contexts may vary, however, small island states share many common challenges. As such, she emphasised the critical importance of partnerships and collaboration among these nations. Ms Bonne emphasised the importance of small island states uniting as a single voice, highlighting that their message resonates more powerfully through exchange and collaboration. Cooperation and partnership are a must for the future resilience of island states.

The discussions concluded with an emphasis on fostering regular science-policy dialogues, sharing best practices among Regional Climate Centres and advancing capacity-building initiatives to ensure that climate services effectively inform national and regional policies. The side event reaffirmed the critical role of such collaborative efforts in driving sustainable development and climate resilience in vulnerable regions like Fiji and beyond.

This side event effectively promoted understanding and engagement of stakeholders through user interface platforms, facilitating co-design and co-production processes that contribute to effective policy development. Insights from pilot countries, including Fiji, underscored the importance of tools like the SEB for demonstrating the tangible benefits of integrating climate information into policy frameworks. Furthermore, the event addressed user requirements for integrating climate considerations into policy, ensuring that climate priorities are effectively mainstreamed into decision-making processes.

 

For more information, download the Concept Note and the presentations.

 

download the concept note

download the presentation on the Science-Policy Interface by OACPS

download the presentation on the SEB tool in Fiji by SPREP