Climate Change

Fiji feels devastating effects of Winston

Experts linked the cyclone to global warming, saying that the extreme-weather event pointed to climate change

 
By DTE Staff
Published: Tuesday 23 February 2016

Almost a week after Fiji became the first country in the world to ratify the Paris agreement; the nation felt the devastating impact of global warming when a cyclone hit the island.

According to news reports, Cyclone Winston, which hit Fiji during the weekend, brought winds of over 200 miles per hour, torrential rainfall and waves of up to 40 feet. A month-long state of disaster has been declared in the country.

Twenty-one people have been confirmed dead so far. Experts linked the cyclone to global warming, saying that the extreme-weather event pointed to climate change.

In Fiji, sea-level rise and coastal erosion have already begun to displace people. More than 30 Fijian villages have been identified as vulnerable.

Although it represents only a tiny share of the world’s emissions, Fiji is doing its part to reduce them, reports add. The country has pledged to boost its renewable share of electricity generation from around 60 per cent in 2013 to near 100 per cent by 2030.

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