Kings and Queens Roads are set for climate resilience upgrades, with Australia committing three million US dollars towards work on key road links in the country.

The announcement was made at Pre-COP31 in Nadi by Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, who said the funding would support projects in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati and Tuvalu.

For Fiji, the funding will target sections of the Kings Road and Queens Road, which are important transport links for communities in the Central and Western divisions.

Bowen said the projects are aimed at helping Pacific countries deal with rising sea levels, coastal erosion and increasingly frequent natural disasters.

“Investments now can reduce that cost in future after natural disasters.”

He said the funding is part of Australia’s wider partnership with Pacific countries to strengthen infrastructure against the impacts of climate change.

FEnvironment Minister Lynda Tabuya welcomed the commitment, saying some sections of the Kings and Queens Roads need immediate repairs, while others may eventually need to be relocated because of climate risks.

She said Fiji also has a responsibility to invest in its own infrastructure.

“We as a country need to lead that ourselves as well.”

Tabuya said the Australian funding would help repair sections of the two main roads, while the Government would have to consider additional funding from the national budget for areas that may need to be moved to higher ground.

The announcement comes as Pacific leaders and climate negotiators discuss how climate finance can better reach communities facing the impacts of a changing climate.

Bowen said the road projects are an example of what climate partnerships can deliver on the ground.

He also announced that Fiji had committed 10 million US dollars to the Pacific Resilience Facility, while Denmark had pledged another 2.2 million US dollars.

The Pacific Resilience Facility is targeting 500 million US dollars to support climate resilience, disaster preparedness, adaptation and loss and damage across Pacific communities.

Tabuya said Fiji’s contribution showed Pacific countries were also prepared to invest in their own resilience while calling on international partners to provide further support.

For communities using the Kings and Queens Roads, the focus now will be on where the funding is directed and when the upgrades can begin.