ADB pleased to assist Fiji in mobilizing US$31M grant to improve water supply in Suva

Asian Development Bank’s Vice President for South East Asia and the Pacific Stephen Groff says they are pleased to assist Fiji in mobilizing a US$31 million grant for the financing from the Green Climate Fund to improve water supply in Suva.

The Green Climate Fund approved the climate adaptation grant for ADB’s plan for the Fiji Urban Water Supply and Wastewater Management Project that will benefit a third of the country’s population.

The project will build new infrastructure to increase clean water supply by 20% and boost wastewater treatment capacity by 200% in the greater Suva area.

ADB states that the grant will cover a third of the funds needed to ensure the water supply system is more resilient to anticipated climate change impacts.

The Asian Development Bank say the water intake for the new system will be moved higher up the Rewa River to avoid saltwater intrusion from a rise in the sea level and to cope with likely shifts in river flows in the future.

ADB say the water system will be climate‑proofed through a number of measures including strengthening pipes to make them more resilient to flooding.

The Asian Development Bank say by providing an alternative source of water for the greater Suva area the overall water network will also become stronger.

ADB will invest US$1.5 million to assist Fiji’s presidency of the 23rd Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and join the government of Fiji’s COP23 Advisory panel.

Attorney General and Minister responsible for Climate Change Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says COP 23 will be critical to keep up the momentum for decisive action to reduce carbon emissions and arrest the current state of global warming.