Table of indicators on Cultural Losses due to Climate Change and Planned Relocations

In support of the Government of Fiji, PDD elaborated a table of indicators on cultural assets that can be affected by the impacts of climate change, as well as during planned relocation operations.

The table focuses on tangible and intangible elements related to:

• the physical aspects of culture (e.g. loss of connection to land and to specific sites)
• the spiritual aspects of culture (e.g. loss of language and oral tradition, traditional dances, traditional practices and local knowledge)
• the social aspects of culture (e.g. loss of traditional social structures, social bonds and identity).

The list of indicators is specific to the Fiji context, but can be used as a basis for the development of different, country or context-specific assessment tools that can help evaluate all relevant dimensions of non-economic Loss & Damage.

This specific tool will support Fiji’s Government officials to make decisions on planned relocation of communities at risk due to disasters and climate change. By considering the categories in this table, local officials may gain insights into how climate change impacts and the relocation process itself may cause non- economic losses or damages (NELD) to both tangible and intangible characteristics of cultural assets.

In the coming months, the tool will be piloted in ongoing planned relocation processes across the country.

Cover photo: Carol Farbotko