The University of the South Pacific (USP) officially welcomed guests and participants of the Climate Resilient Pathways: Water Security and WASH in Asia-Pacific Conference at its Laucala Campus in Suva yesterday with a traditional welcome ceremony.
The conference – hosted simultaneously in Suva, Fiji and Bangkok, Thailand – features over 400 registered participants from 28 countries, reflecting the urgent global attention on climate resilience, water security, and sanitation challenges.
Fiji’s Minister for Public Works, Transport and Meteorological Services, Honourable Ro Filipe Tuisawau acknowledged the immediate and escalating challenges Fiji faced such as rising sea levels, flooding, and aging water infrastructure.
He highlighted key government initiatives, including the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan and the Fiji Integrated Water Insurance Information Management System, which were critical for future resilience.
Minister Tuisawau also stressed the need for inclusive participation in water governance, particularly the role of women in decision-making at community levels.
In the Pacific’s traditional societies, it is vital that women’s voices are part of water management discussions, as they are the primary managers of water within homes.
Tuisawau
Australian High Commission in Fiji’s Counsellor for Infrastructure and Climate Resilience, Louise Scott, reiterated Australia’s commitment to supporting water security and climate resilience initiatives in the Pacific.
Access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene is a fundamental human right, yet for over two billion people worldwide, this remains out of reach. This conference provides a rare opportunity to share achievements, lessons, and insights across a diverse and critical sector.
Louise Scott
In his welcome remarks, USP Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia said the conference resonated deeply with aspirations outlined in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which prioritised vibrant and resilient communities.
Our communities possess profound knowledge of the environment, passed down through generations. It is imperative that we integrate indigenous knowledge with modern science and data to create effective and culturally appropriate solutions.
As highlighted in the 2050 Strategy, we must harness this rich traditional knowledge alongside contemporary scientific methods to inform policy and practice, ensuring that our endeavours are rooted in both scientific rigor and local wisdom.
Professor Ahluwalia
The conference is organised by the International Water Centre at Griffith University, in partnership with Australia’s Water for Women Fund — Australia’s flagship initiative supporting water, sanitation, and hygiene programmes across Asia and the Pacific.
The Vice-Chancellor and the Honourable Minister both emphasised the critical role of institutions like USP in fostering regional collaboration and building a resilient future through education, research, and shared knowledge.
The Climate Resilient Pathways: Water Security and WASH in Asia-Pacific Conference will conclude on 1 May 2025.