Fiji National Carbon Market Roadmap Strategy

Produce a domestic carbon market development strategy and related productions for adoption by the Government of Fiji, creating a pathway for the development of Fiji's carbon market, which will create opportunities to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Developed National Carbon Market Strategy Roadmap (Strategy Roadmap).

Case study: The Drawa Rainforest Project demonstrates a strong gender balance and inclusiveness approach:
- Its governance body (DBFCC) includes members from eight Mataqali (clans) as well as a women’s group and a youth group
- Women and youth actively participate in:
o Project activities (e.g., ranger work, education, and consultation)
o Village council meetings and community decision-making
- They have equal access to income generated by the carbon project.
- Women also lead and benefit from beekeeping enterprises, improving livelihoods and financial independence
• At the national level, the Strategy promotes local ownership, inclusiveness, and equitable benefit-sharing, ensuring the empowerment of women, marginalised groups, and indigenous communities in carbon market projects
• Stakeholder workshops (2023–2024) under the Climate Change Division also included women’s and community groups to ensure inclusive participation in national decision-making

The Fiji National Carbon Market Strategy Roadmap has been developed by the Climate Change Division of the
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change through an 18-month consultative process involving multi-stakeholder workshops, webinars, small group consultations, and research-based assessments. This process to develop a precursor to future national strategy and policy has been informed by national stakeholders with responsibilities and expertise relevant to carbon market mechanisms, including a range of stakeholders with direct experience with carbon market projects. This process has been supported by a dedicated Advisory Group, which was convened and attended on a voluntary basis to provide additional perspectives and technical advice.
Strategy Roadmap Vision: To facilitate a strategic national and locally led approach to carbon market engagement aimed at mobilising resources to support the attainment of Fiji’s sustainable development objectives through high-integrity emissions removal and abatement activities in alignment with the goals and targets of Fiji’s Nationally Determined Contributions.
Strategy Roadmap Purpose: This Roadmap aims to identify key considerations, engagement options and primary actions required to enhance Fiji’s ability to access and utilise appropriate carbon market mechanism(s) to support national mitigation and adaptation priorities, increase investment in sustainable development, and enhance environmental and social integrity.

International Climate Change Engagement Grant AUD 440,000.00. Exchange rate 01/07/2022 AUD 0.6486 and USD 0.4798.
Status of CDM, VCM and REDD+ carbon projects in Fiji
1. Vaturu and Wainikasou Hydropower Project – 24,928 tCO₂e, 122,734 CERs
2. Kinoya Sewerage Treatment Project – 22,471 tCO₂e, 18,663 CERs
3. Nadarivatu Hydropower Project – 47,361 tCO₂e, 100,367 CERs
4. 12MW Biomass Power Plant at Nabou – 29,238 tCO₂e, no credits issued
5. Improved Cookstove Program (CDM) – 277,731 tCO₂e, 81,289 CERs
6. Drawa Rainforest Project – 25,861 tCO₂e (years 1–15), 14,841 tCO₂e (years 16–30), 165,350 PVCs
7. Improved Cookstove Program (VCS) – 272,846 tCO₂e, no credits issued
8. Fiji Forest ER Program (REDD+) – 2,500,000 tCO₂e over 5 years, credits not Fiji

Potential in Fiji:
• At the national level, Fiji is also in a position to use international carbon markets as a means to scale up investment in costly technologies and infrastructure needed to reduce national reliance on fossil fuels.
• Fiji’s updated NDC comprehensively recognises international carbon markets as a means to expedite technology transfer, capacity building and access to climate finance
• Partnerships offering financial support, technology transfer, and infrastructure development aligned with Fiji’s renewable energy goals
• Article 6 mechanisms under the Paris Agreement which promote technology transfer between investor and host countries, e.g., renewable energy, transportation, and energy efficiency technologies
• Focus on expanding project portfolios to include technology-based solutions such as solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and energy efficiency projects
• Encouraging development of new carbon market methodologies aligned with Fiji’s national priorities and technological innovation

Several capacity-building initiatives are helping developing countries like Fiji establish carbon projects and engage with voluntary and Article 6 markets. For instance, Fiji can build institutional capacity within the government and the private sector by leveraging training and workshop opportunities under the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Carbon Payment for Development, the Global Green Growth Institute’s (GGGI) Carbon Transaction Platform, the International Blue Carbon Partnership, or the World Bank’s Partnership for Market Implementation. Assistance in designing institutional, policy and regulatory frameworks to support carbon market development can be sourced from the same programs. Aside from the Indo-Pacific Carbon Offset Scheme (IPCOS) program launched by the Australian Government, there is a lack of ongoing and coordinated initiatives addressing the specific capacity-building needs in PICs, particularly in Article 6 implementation. There is an opportunity to work with other countries in the region, such as Australia and New Zealand, to develop targeted, bespoke capacity-building programs to address national gaps and requirements.