Perspectives on climate change and adaptation in Fijian villages contemplating relocation

Yuki Yoshida^1*Giles B Sioen^2,3Gauna Metuisela⁴Richard Crichton^4,5

• ¹National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Tsukuba, Japan
• ²The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tōkyō, Japan
• ³Future Earth Global Secretariat, Tokyo, Japan
• ⁴Center for Sustainable Futures, University of the South Pacific, Laucala, Fiji
• ⁵Division for Prosperity, United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Hiroshima, Japan

Planned relocation is increasingly recognized as a necessary response to escalating climate risks, yet little is known about how such decisions unfold at the community level. Drawing on dialogues and field visits at seven iTaukei villages across Fiji, this report examines how communities are experiencing and responding to climate-related challenges. Findings reveal cascading impactsincluding flooding, land loss, disrupted livelihoods, and psychological stress-that have prompted a range of adaptation strategies, from in-situ adjustments to full or partial relocation, with mixed outcomes. Despite growing pressures, most communities expressed a strong, culturally grounded preference to remain in place. Challenges in reaching consensus and securing funding reflect the complexity of relocation processes. Moreover, traditional governance structures do not always ensure equal participation, highlighting the importance of attending to intra-community dynamics. To minimize loss and damage while ensuring agency and resilience of frontline communities, climate mobility frameworks will need to support anticipatory planning, uphold community agency, and recognize immobility as a legitimate and often preferred option.