In Fiji, churches help people cope with rising sea levels

Rev. Dr Semisi Turagavou said that the consequences of the climate emergency are directly affecting many people in Fiji. “They are experiencing the impact of climate change in the Pacific countries,” he said.

In Fiji, for example, the government is asking people to relocate due to rising sea levels. “Is it possible to move?” asked Turagavou. “Some are relocating but some refuse to move because in the place that they are living, and their ancestors are buried there.”

Because the land was held by their forefathers, it’s part of their identity, he explained.

Another challenge for many Pacific islands is the lack of fresh water.

“It is a challenge to the government and also to the church, because of the rising sea level, the amount of fresh water is a challenge for them,” he said. “This is a risk especially to children.”

Many Pacific islands need help, he urged. “They need assistance just because of running out of fresh water,” he said.

In Fiji, some of the villages have relocated—and many people are members of the Methodist Church, the largest denomination in Fiji.

“The church is not sitting down and doing nothing,” said Turagavou. “The church is assisting government agencies in terms of relocation and also finding solutions.”

Rev. Dr Semisi Turagavou, President of the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma, attended the recent World Council of Churches executive committee meeting.

He believes the church should not only pray for what is happening in the country, it should assist the government in doing practical work to assist those who are in danger, especially, and those who are most vulnerable to climate change.

“We have a department within the Methodist Church called the Social Services Department,” said Turagavou. “That department is working hard, cooperatively with the government.”

He believes that, in 15 or 20 years, the smaller islands of Fiji will be submerged—and those inhabitants will be forced to relocate.

“The people from Fiji and the people in the Pacific need assistance in building sea walls,” he said. “People want to stay even though they are very close to the sea. The sea is coming, coming quickly.”

Turagavou added that churches should be in the forefront of helping people cope with climate change. “We have 400 ordained pastors and 1,200 lay pastors within the Methodist Church, so I have asked them to be in the forefront, to be with the people on the ground,” he said. “We work with the people through the challenges they are facing, and I am hopeful we can continue to work with the government closely. I’m very optimistic.”

Turagavou described spending nearly a week at the World Council of Churches executive committee meeting as a good opportunity.

“I had this opportunity to hear and to share, and also to listen to the voices of the representatives of the executive committee of the World Council of Churches,” he said. “It enriched my mind and also my heart, and it pushed me as a church leader to do something practical, especially in an ecumenical way.”