IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i12p3414-d241733.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Governing Climate Finance in Fiji: Barriers, Complexity and Interconnectedness

Author

Listed:
  • Kirsty Anantharajah

    (School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet) College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University, Canberra 0200, Australia)

Abstract

Pacific Island Countries are most vulnerable to the disastrous impacts of climate change; they also, however, manifest some of the most ambitious international climate commitments. Fiji, for one, has sought to respond to the escalating threat by setting highly ambitious climate mitigation targets, specifically in the energy sector. Finance is key to the realization of these goals: governors must attract and meaningfully invest vast sums to support these mitigation targets. This study, through qualitative, empirical, and inductive methods, found that a complex landscape of barriers stood between governors and the translation of finance into positive climate outcomes. The study categorized barriers into four different planes of deepening entrenchment: Level One barriers are the most tractable, whereas Level Four barriers are immovable. The study found that these barriers interrelate between levels, creating complex chains of entrenchment. A superficially tractable issue may be rendered less so by being rooted in a more entrenched issue. Empirically, this paper delineates the complex landscape of challenges, or ‘context’, that Fijian climate governors must understand in order to deliver effective governance solutions. Beyond this, this research offers a framework of broader application through which climate governors may conceptualize complex barriers.

Suggested Citation

  • Kirsty Anantharajah, 2019. "Governing Climate Finance in Fiji: Barriers, Complexity and Interconnectedness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-18, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:12:p:3414-:d:241733
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/12/3414/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/12/3414/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sharma, Kaushik & Ahmed, M. Rafiuddin, 2016. "Wind energy resource assessment for the Fiji Islands: Kadavu Island and Suva Peninsula," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 168-180.
    2. Jale Samuwai & Jeremy Maxwell Hills, 2018. "Assessing Climate Finance Readiness in the Asia-Pacific Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Dornan, Matthew & Shah, Kalim U., 2016. "Energy policy, aid, and the development of renewable energy resources in Small Island Developing States," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 759-767.
    4. Dornan, Matthew & Jotzo, Frank, 2015. "Renewable technologies and risk mitigation in small island developing states: Fiji’s electricity sector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 35-48.
    5. Dornan, Matthew, 2014. "Access to electricity in Small Island Developing States of the Pacific: Issues and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 726-735.
    6. Cole, Peter & Banks, Glenn, 2017. "Renewable energy programmes in the South Pacific – Are these a solution to dependency?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 500-508.
    7. Dornan, M., 2011. "Solar-based rural electrification policy design: The Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model in Fiji," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 797-803.
    8. Ilaria Carrozza, 2015. "Climate Finance in the Asia-Pacific: Trends and Innovative Approaches," MPDD Working Paper Series WP/15/08, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
    9. Lucas, Hugo & Fifita, Solomone & Talab, Ilham & Marschel, Cornelia & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2017. "Critical challenges and capacity building needs for renewable energy deployment in Pacific Small Island Developing States (Pacific SIDS)," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 42-52.
    10. Asian Development Bank (ADB), 2013. "Re-invigorating Private Sector Investment: A Private Sector Assessment in Fiji," ADB Reports RPS136022-2, Asian Development Bank (ADB), revised 13 Dec 2013.
    11. Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2009. "The intermittency of wind, solar, and renewable electricity generators: Technical barrier or rhetorical excuse?," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 17(3-4), pages 288-296, September.
    12. Klaus Eisenack & Susanne C. Moser & Esther Hoffmann & Richard J. T. Klein & Christoph Oberlack & Anna Pechan & Maja Rotter & Catrien J. A. M. Termeer, 2014. "Explaining and overcoming barriers to climate change adaptation," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 4(10), pages 867-872, October.
    13. Timilsina, Govinda R. & Shah, Kalim U., 2016. "Filling the gaps: Policy supports and interventions for scaling up renewable energy development in Small Island Developing States," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 653-662.
    14. Wolf, Franziska & Surroop, Dinesh & Singh, Anirudh & Leal, Walter, 2016. "Energy access and security strategies in Small Island Developing States," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 663-673.
    15. Hills, Jeremy M. & Μichalena, Evanthie & Chalvatzis, Konstantinos J., 2018. "Innovative technology in the Pacific: Building resilience for vulnerable communities," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 16-26.
    16. Prasad, Ravita D. & Raturi, Atul, 2019. "Low carbon alternatives and their implications for Fiji's electricity sector," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 1-19.
    17. Dornan, Matthew, 2014. "Reform despite politics? The political economy of power sector reform in Fiji, 1996–2013," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 703-712.
    18. Taibi, Emanuele & Gualberti, Giorgio & Bazilian, Morgan & Gielen, Dolf, 2016. "A framework for technology cooperation to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy in Pacific Island Countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 778-790.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jale Samuwai & Jeremy Maxwell Hills & Evanthie Michalena, 2019. "Thinking Outside the Box: Deepening Private Sector Investments in Fiji’s Nationally Determined Contributions through Scenario Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-15, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Walter Leal Filho & Abdul-Lateef Balogun & Dinesh Surroop & Amanda Lange Salvia & Kapil Narula & Chunlan Li & Julian David Hunt & Andrea Gatto & Ayyoob Sharifi & Haibo Feng & Stella Tsani & Hossein Az, 2022. "Realising the Potential of Renewable Energy as a Tool for Energy Security in Small Island Developing States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-21, April.
    2. Raghoo, Pravesh & Surroop, Dinesh & Wolf, Franziska & Leal Filho, Walter & Jeetah, Pratima & Delakowitz, Bernd, 2018. "Dimensions of energy security in Small Island Developing States," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 94-101.
    3. Dornan, Matthew & Shah, Kalim U., 2016. "Energy policy, aid, and the development of renewable energy resources in Small Island Developing States," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 759-767.
    4. Vaiaso, T.V. Jr. & Jack, M.W., 2021. "Quantifying the trade-off between percentage of renewable supply and affordability in Pacific island countries: Case study of Samoa," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    5. Surroop, Dinesh & Raghoo, Pravesh & Bundhoo, Zumar M.A., 2018. "Comparison of energy systems in Small Island Developing States," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 46-54.
    6. Jale Samuwai & Jeremy Maxwell Hills & Evanthie Michalena, 2019. "Thinking Outside the Box: Deepening Private Sector Investments in Fiji’s Nationally Determined Contributions through Scenario Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-15, August.
    7. Wyllie, Jamalia O.Y. & Essah, Emmanuel A. & Ofetotse, Eng L., 2018. "Barriers of solar energy uptake and the potential for mitigation solutions in Barbados," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 935-949.
    8. Surroop, Dinesh & Raghoo, Pravesh, 2018. "Renewable energy to improve energy situation in African island states," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 176-183.
    9. Sandu, Suwin & Yang, Muyi & Shi, Xunpeng & Chi, Yuanying, 2020. "A governance perspective on electricity industry development: The case of Papua New Guinea," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    10. Liu, Jiahong & Mei, Chao & Wang, Hao & Shao, Weiwei & Xiang, Chenyao, 2018. "Powering an island system by renewable energy—A feasibility analysis in the Maldives," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C), pages 18-27.
    11. Atkinson, Travis & Preckel, Paul V. & Gotham, Douglas, 2022. "Costs and trade-offs associated with renewable energy policies for Small Island Developing States: Case study for Jamaica," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    12. Raghoo, Pravesh & Surroop, Dinesh & Wolf, Franziska, 2017. "Natural gas to improve energy security in Small Island Developing States: A techno-economic analysis," Development Engineering, Elsevier, vol. 2(C), pages 92-98.
    13. Matthew Dornan, 2015. "Renewable Energy Development in Small Island Developing States of the Pacific," Resources, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-17, July.
    14. Weir, Tony, 2018. "Renewable energy in the Pacific Islands: Its role and status," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 762-771.
    15. Hills, Jeremy M. & Μichalena, Evanthie & Chalvatzis, Konstantinos J., 2018. "Innovative technology in the Pacific: Building resilience for vulnerable communities," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 16-26.
    16. Kalim U. Shah & Sashwat Roy & Wei-Ming Chen & Keron Niles & Dinesh Surroop, 2020. "Application of an Institutional Assessment and Design (IAD)-Enhanced Integrated Regional Energy Policy and Planning (IREPP) Framework to Island States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, April.
    17. Timmons, D. & Dhunny, A.Z. & Elahee, K. & Havumaki, B. & Howells, M. & Khoodaruth, A. & Lema-Driscoll, A.K. & Lollchund, M.R. & Ramgolam, Y.K. & Rughooputh, S.D.D.V. & Surroop, D., 2019. "Cost minimization for fully renewable electricity systems: A Mauritius case study," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    18. Sabine, Garabedian & Avotra, Narindranjanahary & Olivia, Ricci & Sandrine, Selosse, 2020. "A macroeconomic evaluation of a carbon tax in overseas territories: A CGE model for Reunion Island," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    19. Dornan, Matthew & Jotzo, Frank, 2015. "Renewable technologies and risk mitigation in small island developing states: Fiji’s electricity sector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 35-48.
    20. Boräng, Frida & Jagers, Sverker C. & Povitkina, Marina, 2016. "Political determinants of electricity provision in small island developing states," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 725-734.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:12:p:3414-:d:241733. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.