New research using citizen science and social media records reveals humpback whales are feeding regularly along Australia’s east coast migration route, particularly in southern New South Wales and Tasmania.
PhD Candidate Sarah McCulloch.
This is despite traditional assumptions that whales largely fasted between Antarctic feeding grounds and tropical breeding areas.
Led by Griffith University PhD Candidate Sarah McCulloch, analysis of more than a decade of observations identified 199 feeding events involving 1,417 whales, revealed supplementary feeding during migration may be far more common than previously understood.
By analysing social media posts from 2013-2024, researchers compiled the most extensive dataset to date of humpback whale feeding behaviour in Australian coastal waters.
Most feeding observations occurred in waters off southern New South Wales (45 per cent / 91 events); eastern / southern Tasmania (28 per cent / 56 events); Victoria (12 per cent / 24 events).
Together, these regions accounted for about 85 per cent of all feeding observations that were documented.
“Feeding also occurred outside expected times and places,” Ms McCulloch said.
“We found feeding happened during both northbound and southbound migrations.
“In Tasmania and Victorian waters feeding also took place during almost every month of the year, even during the summer months when whales are generally expected to be feeding in Antarctica.”
Ms McCulloch said the feeding hotspots aligned with areas influenced by the East Australian Current dynamics, coastal upwelling, nutrient-rich waters, and concentrations of krill and baitfish prey species.
Dr Olaf Meynecke, who co-led the research, said the team also found evidence of large-scale feeding groups in New South Wales waters, with multiple sightings involving up to 100 whales feeding together.
“One event near Bermagui involved about 150 feeding whales,” Dr Meynecke said.
“These observations support the growing evidence that large ‘super-group’ feeding events happen regularly in eastern Australian waters.”
Dr Olaf Meynecke
The authors argued understanding where and when whales fed had important management implications, as these feeding areas often overlapped with fishing, shipping and offshore energy development activities.
They also highlighted the expanding population of humpback whales was under pressure from changes in Antarctica that resulted in a higher variability of krill supplies.
The study ‘Citizen science data reveal humpback whales feeding along the eastern coast of Australia’ has been published in Marine Mammal Science and was conducted as part of the Whales and Climate Research Program.
Professor Lennert Veerman
Millions of cases of tooth decay could be prevented if Australia introduced a 20 per cent tax on sugar, new Griffith University research has found.
Professor Lennert Veerman from Griffith’s School of Medicine and Dentistry said a sugar tax could significantly improve the oral health of Australians.
“It could prevent 3.7 million cases of tooth decay, 191,000 cases of gum disease, and 115,000 cases of complete tooth loss,” Professor Veerman said.
“The study also estimates a 20 per cent sugar tax would generate approximately half a million health-adjusted life years for the 2019 Australian population over their lifetime, both from dental health improvements and reductions in weight-related illness.”
Oral diseases affect about 3.5 billion people globally and nearly 32 per cent of Australians adults have untreated cases of tooth decay.
Males were projected to experience the most health benefits from a sugar tax as they currently consume more sugary drinks and have higher baseline levels of some oral diseases.
Adjunct Research Fellow Mishel Shahid said this was the first Australian study to quantify the impacts of a sugar tax beyond tooth decay.
Adjunct Research Fellow Mishel Shahid
“Previous modelling examined dental caries, but this study also encompassed periodontitis and edentulism, commonly known as complete tooth loss, which add significantly to the overall impact of the tax,” she said.
Professor Marco Peres from SingHealth Duke-NUS in Singapore said the findings reinforced the importance of considering oral health when assessing the broader benefits of policies targeting sugar consumption.
“The potential benefits of a sugar-sweetened beverage tax extend well beyond reducing obesity and diabetes,” Professor Peres said.
“Our findings show such a policy could also prevent a substantial burden of oral disease across the Australian population.
“Importantly, a sugar tax is a population-level measure.
“It does not rely solely on individuals changing their behaviour, but helps create an environment in which healthier choices become easier.
“This is particularly important if we want prevention strategies to reach the whole population and reduce health inequalities.”
The paper ‘Impact of a sugar sweetened beverage tax on dental caries, periodontitis and edentulism in Australia: A modelling study’ has been published in BMJ Public Health.
Christian Adamson, Matt Redenbach, The Hon Andrew Fraser, Uncle John Graham, Professor Carolyn Evans, The Hon Hermann Vorster MP, John C. Schroder, Tracey Horton, Maree Wilson
Hundreds of Griffith University students will benefit from secure, purpose-built accommodation following the opening of a new student accommodation tower at the Gold Coast campus.
The addition of 460 new beds will increase on-campus accommodation capacity to almost 1000 beds, providing greater housing certainty for students and helping to ease housing pressure across the Gold Coast.
The new tower was developed in partnership with student accommodation specialist Campus Living Villages, owner and operator of Griffith University Village.
Vice Chancellor and President Professor Carolyn Evans said campus living offered students the opportunity to be close to classes and university facilities, while enjoying a vibrant community and amenities designed with the student lifestyle in mind.
“It is a great pleasure to celebrate the opening of this new student housing facility, knowing the difference it will make to the university experience for its residents,” Professor Evans said.
“Griffith’s Gold Coast campus offers students the opportunity to study in one of Australia’s most desirable locations, and with the G:link light rail on the campus doorstep, residents can access the Gold Coast’s beaches and attractions.
“It is wonderful to see accessibility features thoughtfully incorporated throughout the development, including wheelchair friendly rooms and modified bathrooms, as well as the swimming pool which features ramped wheelchair access and an aquatic wheelchair.
“Increased on-campus accommodation provides another high-quality housing option for regional, interstate, and international students choosing to study at Griffith.”
Featuring a mix of studio, two-bedroom and accessible apartments, all residents have access to a range of shared facilities including a resort-style swimming pool, yarning circle, landscaped green spaces, gym and yoga studio, collaborative study spaces, cinema and recreation room, laundry, and a shared cooking and dining space.
Renowned for creating a vibrant living environment for students to thrive, Group Managing Director and CEO of Campus Living Villages John Schroder said: “We are very pleased to expand our existing village footprint to allow for more residents to benefit from living on campus at Griffith University Village.”
“Our long-standing partnership with Griffith University has benefited thousands of students over the years, and our new shared amenities and collaborative spaces will support thousands more as they step into the next chapter of learning, socialising and building friendships.”
Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), commonly known as drugs for diabetes and weight loss, may have additional mental health benefits, especially for people with bipolar disorder, new Griffith University research has found.
Diabetes, obesity, and bipolar disorder often co-occur and may have shared pathophysiology with the latest World Health Organisation data estimating one in 200, or 37 million people, live with bipolar disorder.
GLP-1 medications treat diabetes and obesity, but their impact on bipolar disorder is unknown.
Professor Mark Taylor
A large Swedish nationwide study was conducted whereby researchers, led by Professor Mark Taylor from Griffith’s School of Medicine and Dentistry, analysed data from nearly 15,000 people with bipolar disorder who were prescribed GLP-1 medications over a 15-year period.
“People with bipolar disorder who were taking semaglutide (otherwise known as Ozempic or wegovy), a type of GLP-1 medication, had significantly lower rates of psychiatric hospitalisation compared with periods when they were not taking GLP-1 medicines,” Professor Taylor said.
“The findings add to growing evidence that GLP-1 receptor agonists may have benefits beyond diabetes and obesity treatment, and could represent a promising new avenue for bipolar research.”
Semaglutide was associated with a 21 per cent lower risk of psychiatric hospitalisation.
The study suggested GLP-1 signalling may help to protect the brain by reducing inflammation, cellular stress and other biological processes which have been linked to bipolar disorder.
This could potentially improve mood stability and reduce the risk of relapse.
While semaglutide was associated with reduced psychiatric hospitalisation risk, liraglutide and dulaglutide were not, suggesting the effect may not apply to all GLP-1 medicines.
Professor Taylor hoped the research findings would be further tested in a randomised controlled trial.
The paper ‘Use of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists and the associated risk of hospitalisation in bipolar disorder, from a nationwide cohort, 2009-2024’ has been published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.
Ten presenters, ten absorbing research subjects, three minutes each — and one winner.
Griffith University’s 2026 Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Final delivered on all fronts at South Bank’s QCAD Lecture Theatre.
In a closely fought final, the judges found PhD candidate Yasmin Khan to have delivered the best presentation for her subject titled ‘Behind the Bridal Henna’.
The runner-up was Minh Nhan (Griffith Business School) for his presentation titled ‘Virtual Tourism for Workforce Wellbeing’.
While there was a feeling in the room that Ms Khan would present strongly, the Arts, Education and Law candidate admitted the result caught her off guard.
“I was surprised, actually,” she said.
“I’ve always got confidence in myself, but I was surprised, and pleasantly surprised.”
Ms Khan’s research examines the experiences of South Asian women in Australia and the domestic abuse they can face — not from husbands, but from mothers-in-law.
A series of podcasts was her method of shining a light on this issue; they’ll be made available at the end of her thesis journey.
“The old trope of the nasty mother-in-law was always there, but all these women were coming to me and saying, ‘It’s not really my husband who’s the problem — it’s my mother-in-law,’” she said.
“I thought there’s got to be something in that.
“Nobody had researched it.
“Nobody had looked at what these women had been through — what sort of humiliation and disrespect they’d experienced.”
Her presentation gave voice to women often cloistered within communities bound by honour and respect, and to behaviour that carries new weight in an Australian context.
“It’s all right if you’re doing that back home, because nobody cares,” she said.
” But if you’re doing that in Australia, a lot of those things are against the law..
“These micro-aggressions or macro-aggressions are all of a sudden illegal.
“How do we navigate our way through that system?
“And what are these women actually saying?”
Far from struggling to find participants, Yasmin was inundated with women calling from as far away as Perth to share their stories.
“They weren’t only willing to tell their story — they wanted to break the cycle and they wanted to educate people,” she said.
“They were quite proud, not of what they’d been through, but of the fact they could now stand up and fight back against the patriarchal system that put them in that situation.
“Something’s got to break the cycle otherwise you’re going to be the nasty mother-in-law next time for your daughter-in-law.”
Ms Khan paid tribute to her supervisors, Professor Susan Ford, Associate Professor Heather Anderson and Dr Zoe Rathus, who attended each of her heats, along with colleagues across the humanities.
“They’ve been very, very supportive,” she said.
”It’s been terrific — they’ve all been great.”.
A woman of faith, she also thanked “the good Lord above — I’m sure my mother was sitting in the audience praying immensely. I know I was praying.”
With her win, Ms Khan takes home $1,500 and will represent Griffith at the Asia-Pacific 3MT Final in October, aiming to become the University’s second-ever winner of the overall title after Sienna van Rossum’s 2024 triumph.
“Let’s hope I can represent Griffith really well,” she said.
“I intend to put my best effort in to do so.”
In February 2025, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was interviewed by reality TV star turned podcaster, Abbie Chatfield.
Digital creators are shaping which political issues young Australians notice, discuss and investigate, new research from Griffith University has found.
Democracy In Our Feeds explored the changing way young people encountered political information and what this meant for trust, participation and Australia’s democratic information system.
The research examined 564 political creator posts published in the lead up to the 2025 federal election, compared them with traditional and entertainment media, and explored audience responses through a survey and focus groups.
The study found creators dominated election and leadership content, out-publishing traditional media four to one, while audiences rated them the most influential political content they encountered and wanted binding standards on how they operate.
“Politics now reaches young people through creators, podcasts, memes, group chats and algorithmic feeds where news sits beside entertainment, identity and emotion,” Dr Grantham said.
“It’s important to respond to this shift because regardless of whether we like the idea, creators are now an integral part of the democratic ecosystem and an increasingly important part of youth political engagement.”
The findings showed creators developed distinct political communicative repertoires, challenging the authority of traditional media and positioning themselves as legitimate civic educators.
“Creators don’t necessarily change minds on the spot, but they shape what receives attention in the first place, influence what enters the feed, what feels urgent and what people investigate for themselves,” Dr Grantham said.
“The personality, emotional connection, speed and algorithmic visibility that make creators effective can also amplify misinformation, oversimplification and partisan content.”
2025 was the year influencers stepped into the mainstream of Australian politics
Christie Wilson, Marketing and Communications Director at Sentiment Agency, said creators don’t have to change someone’s mind to shape democracy.
“If a post prompts someone to Google something, see what other people think about it, send it to a friend or raise it with housemates, it’s already influenced what gets attention and enters public conversation,” Ms Wilson said.
“The public square has changed faster than the democratic infrastructure around it.”
The White Paper provided a research-led starting point for future work to build the public-interest infrastructure younger Australians needed to navigate political information, strengthen civic literacy and engage meaningfully with democracy.
This could include co-designing a Code of Ethics with creators and experts, setting practical standards for sourcing, disclosure, accuracy and accountability in political and civic content.
Dr Luke Carpenter-Bundhoo.
What if Queensland was home to not one but three “vegan Draculas”?
Thanks to new funding, a team of scientists is learning more about the mysterious, jawless, non-parasitic Australian brook lamprey with circular rows of teeth, while potentially confirming the taxonomy of two other undescribed species found in Queensland waters.
Working alongside DETSI Principal Scientist David Moffatt, Dr Carpenter-Bundhoo will conduct further field work and lab analyses to better understand one of Queensland’s newest and least-known threatened fish, the Australian brook Lamprey (Mordacia praecox).
“I knew that what we had found were lampreys, and my immediate thought was ‘what are they doing here?’,” he said.
“Nobody knew they were on the island, which wasn’t surprising either – this particular species of lamprey was 1,400km north of its previously documented location in streams near the border of New South Wales and Victoria.
“Lampreys are such a cryptic, ancient species.
“About 485 million years ago, we split off from them, and from about 150 million years ago, they don’t change – what we see as lampreys today pretty much existed then.
“They’re even more of a dinosaur fish than our Australian lungfish.
“It was always thought they couldn’t exist in warmer waters, but they’ve been here and as far north as Rockhampton for more than a decade.
“Technically, Queensland is home to the world’s first tropical lamprey.”
Cryptic creatures key to unlocking scientific secrets
New funding will allow the Griffith and DETSI research team to sample more sites to understand the lamprey’s range.
Despite the Australian brook lamprey’s distinctive, circular rows of sharp teeth, the researchers determined it to be a non-parasitic species, at the time earning it the moniker “vegan Dracula”.
Aside from their lifespans and growth progression, not much else is known about lampreys.
A process of metamorphosis ushers them to adulthood which is when they stop eating and focus everything on spawning, leading to death within about eight months.
Their first three to four years are spent sightless in larval form on the bottom of a creek, filtering microscopic algae from the water.
But the ancient, relatively simple biology of lampreys meant their physiology made them an ideal ‘model species’ for further scientific research into understanding human health and diseases.
“Studying lamprey DNA is a bit like looking back at an earlier edition of the vertebrate instruction manual, before hundreds of millions of years of evolutionary tinkering,” Dr Carpenter-Bundhoo said.
“Understanding them can help us understand more complex organisms, including humans.”
Hidden in plain sight
There are about 50 species of lamprey in the world, with the largest growing to 120cm.
Australia is home to three species, and the Australian brook lamprey is among the smallest, growing to just 15cm.
With possibly two other undescribed lampreys in the Griffith University labs, Dr Carpenter-Bundhoo and Mr Moffatt were confident these slightly smaller species were new to science and would bump Australia to five species, with Queensland being home to three.
DETSI Principal Scientist David Moffatt and Griffith University’s Dr Luke Carpenter-Bundhoo.
One of the reasons the Australian brook lamprey had gone largely undetected previously was because they buried themselves under the sand, so water-lovers need not have worried about swimming with the diminutive, prehistoric creatures.
However, their preference for remaining hidden from sight also presented a problem; without knowing where established populations were, decision and policymakers could not facilitate adequate protection and conservation programs for lampreys.
“This species was thought to be extinct in its original range, and now Queensland may be the only place it exists,” Dr Carpenter-Bundhoo said.
“This might be the last bastion of this endangered species.”
Back to the wild for answers
Dr Carpenter-Bundhoo studies the lamprey’s ‘vampire’ teeth.
Dr Carpenter-Bundhoo and Mr Moffatt said finding the Australian brook lamprey and the two other yet-to-be-named species in a “few little spots in Queensland was the tip of the iceberg”.
To fully understand its population and range, the team would return to K’gari and other Queensland sites in the hope they continue to find these “vegan Draculas”.
“An excellent way we can understand more is by going out and sampling all these remote and difficult-to-sample habitats,” Dr Carpenter-Bundhoo said.
“Luckily, our new Protecting Threatened Species Grant from the Queensland Government will allow us to go out there, sample all these remote locations that we think lampreys might be and confirm exactly where they are.
“Knowing their locations will help us create awareness and increase opportunities for their protection, while confirming Queensland as a southern hemisphere biodiversity hotspot for these incredibly cryptic and fascinating non-parasitic creatures.”
China remains one of Australia’s most valuable inbound tourism markets, yet today’s Chinese travellers are increasingly diverse in their motivations, expectations and travel behaviours.
At Griffith Institute for Tourism (GIFT), Associate Professor Xin Jin is helping destinations, governments and tourism operators better understand this evolving visitor market through research that informs strategy, policy and visitor experience design.
Originally from a coastal city near Beijing and now based on the Gold Coast, Associate Professor Jin combines industry experience with expertise in tourism, consumer behaviour, destination marketing and big data analytics.
“My research on Chinese international tourists’ travel behaviours has provided many destinations around the world with a greater understanding of visitor scale and behaviour.”
Looking beyond a single market
Associate Professor Jin’s research challenges the idea that Chinese visitors should be viewed as a single market segment.
Instead, her work highlights the different motivations, preferences and expectations that exist across generations, travel styles and visitor groups.
These insights have helped destinations move beyond broad assumptions and develop more targeted, evidence-based approaches to attracting and serving visitors.
“Successful destinations don’t market to ‘Chinese travellers’ as one group. Understanding the diversity within the market is essential.”
Her research has provided valuable insights into how Chinese travellers make decisions, what influences their travel experiences and how destinations can better meet their evolving needs.
Cathy on the other side as a traveller herself in Urho Ghost City (Yardang landform), Xinjiang. Originally from a seaside town outside Beijing, Cathy has called the Gold Coast home since 2011, where she works at Griffith University.
Using data to understand traveller behaviour
Associate Professor Jin has been at the forefront of applying big data analytics to tourism research, helping destinations understand changing visitor behaviour through accommodation preferences, online reviews and digital travel planning.
Her work explores how travellers use online platforms, what shapes their decision-making and how businesses can identify emerging trends before they become mainstream.
This research is helping tourism operators make more informed decisions and create experiences aligned with visitor expectations.
Building stronger destinations
Beyond visitor motivations and consumer behaviour, Associate Professor Jin’s research has examined how destinations recover from disruption and build long-term resilience.
Her work has contributed to understanding how traveller confidence influences destination recovery and how strategic planning can support sustainable growth.
She has also developed innovative approaches to analysing visitor movement during major events, helping destinations understand not only where visitors go, but how they contribute to local economies and communities.
These insights support better planning, improved visitor experiences and stronger outcomes for destinations.
Research with global impact
Associate Professor Jin’s work has informed policy and decision-making around the world, with her research cited across more than 25 academic disciplines and in more than 100 countries.
She collaborates with governments, international organisations and tourism stakeholders to provide evidence-based insights that support smarter tourism planning and management.
Alongside her research, she serves as Managing Editor of Tourism Management, one of the world’s leading journals in tourism research.
Looking ahead, Associate Professor Jin is exploring the growing influence of artificial intelligence on tourism and traveller behaviour.
“We are in an era of technological transformation. I want to actively learn about the impact of AI on research and on people’s travel and lives.”
Through researchers such as Associate Professor Jin, Griffith Institute for Tourism continues to help destinations better understand visitors, respond to change and make informed decisions that support a more resilient and competitive tourism industry.
Associate Professor Xin Jin collaborates with global organisations, providing evidence-based insights to assist policy creation and decision-making in the visitor economy.
To read the full Tourism Research News article, visit the Griffith Institute for Tourism LinkedIn eNewsletter. Subscribe for free regular eNews updates, to stay informed.
Exposure to a mild or symptom-free strain of Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A) can trigger the body’s immune response and naturally build protection, potentially solving a nearly 100-year-old mystery of immunity.
New Griffith University research, with the help of clinical scientists from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), investigated how immunity developed over time as infection rates declined with age, suggesting progressive immune protection.
Strep A is a common bug which can cause painful tonsillitis and school sores in young children and teenagers.
If untreated, it can lead to rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease and kidney disease, conditions for which First Nations peoples in Australia suffer some of the highest reported rates in the world.
It is estimated 10-20 per cent of children across Australia develop Strep A tonsillitis each year, with some getting the disease multiple times and requiring surgical removal of the tonsils.
By adulthood, most people have developed immunity to Strep A even though most will have only had a few bouts of tonsillitis in their life.
Associate Professor Manisha Pandey
Senior author Associate Professor Manisha Pandey from Griffith’s Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics said: “How this might happen has never been adequately explained as there are more than 250 distinct strains of Strep A, and immunity to one strain does not provide protection against the others.”
“To address this question, the team investigated the development of immunity using samples collected through a controlled human infection study conducted by MCRI researchers who administered a dose of Strep A which was high enough to cause tonsillitis in most, but not all.
“All participants were treated with antibiotics, regardless.
“Surprisingly, antibodies from the asymptomatic participants not only bound strongly to the exposed strain of bacteria but were able to kill the Strep A germ in a murine model of tonsillitis.”
The findings demonstrated both symptomatic and asymptomatic participants developed robust immune responses to the Strep A strain they were exposed to.
Dr Ailin Lepletier
Dr Ailin Lepletier, said it had been known for many years that multiple strains of Strep A were circulating in the community and up to 30 per cent of people had Strep A in their throats without getting sick.
“But we didn’t know this may be providing immunity to these strains, causing silent infections so that by adulthood, we have accumulated antibodies to fight most strains,” she said.
“While a person may not feel sick, their body can still learn how to fight the bacteria and remember it from childhood into adulthood.”
Professor Michael Good
Professor Michael Good AO, said this mechanism of natural immunity may also apply to other common infections.
“While highly intriguing for Strep A, it is unlikely to provide a strategy for a vaccine as it would be necessary to vaccinate against each of the 250 strains,” he said.
Dr Anna Calkin, National Manager of Research at the Heart Foundation, said the findings came from research made possible through approximately $2.79 million in Heart Foundation funding.
“The findings highlight the importance of investing in research that addresses conditions disproportionately affecting First Nations peoples,” Dr Calkin said.
“By improving our understanding of how natural immunity to Strep A develops, this work may contribute to future efforts to prevent rheumatic heart disease and close longstanding health gaps.”
The research team included Griffith University Professor Daniel Kolarich, plus MCRI researchers Associate Professor Joshua Osowicki and Professor Andrew Streer.
The paper ‘Subclinical exposure to Streptococcus pyogenes drives the development of long-lived homologous immunity’ has been published in Nature Communications.
Climate solutions are most effective when they are shaped by the people who have protected and cared for their environment for generations.
Griffith Asia Institute (GAI) members Professor Andreas Neef and Professor Chris Fleming together with former GAI Director Professor Christoph Nedopil recently co-convened the Australia Awards Fellowship workshop on “Scaling Climate Finance for Indigenous Adaptation Solutions in the Pacific” and the APN policy workshop on “Climate Micro-mobilities as Adaptive Strategies in Fiji and Samoa”, held in Suva, Fiji, from 16-17 July 2026.
The two-day workshop brought together more than 20 researchers, policymakers, Indigenous leaders, development partners and climate practitioners from Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji and Australia to explore how climate finance can be made more accessible to Indigenous communities and how locally led adaptation, including Indigenous knowledge and traditional practices, can strengthen climate resilience across the Pacific. Participants also examined how climate-related mobility and customary land systems can support communities in adapting to the impacts of climate change.
The workshop was opened by Fiji’s Minister for Environment and Climate Change Hon. Lynda Tabuya.
L-R: Fiji’s Minister for Environment and Climate Change Hon. Lynda Tabuya delivering the workshop opening address. Hon. Tabuya receiving a token of appreciation from Professor Andreas Neef. Fiji’s Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Dr Sivendra Michael commenting on a workshop presentation. (Photos supplied)
Hon. Tabuya said Pacific communities have long relied on Indigenous knowledge, customary governance and deep connections to the land and ocean to adapt to environmental change.
“Long before climate adaptation became part of international policy discussions, Pacific communities were adapting to environmental and climatic variability. These systems have enabled communities to thrive for generations and remain essential to our climate future.”
These strategies include various forms of micro-mobilities. This may involve the practice of maintaining two or more residences, allowing people to move between coastal and inland areas or between different villages. This flexibility – which is enabled by the system of customary land rights – enhances Pacific people’s ability to adapt to climate change and other challenges.
“I have witnessed first-hand the grievances among communities when they have to permanently relocate from the land of their ancestors. Climate micro-mobilities may offer viable alternatives to planned relocation.”
The Minister stressed that while there is growing global recognition of Indigenous knowledge and practices, greater effort is needed to ensure climate finance reaches the communities it is intended to serve.
“If we are serious about building climate resilience, we must also be serious about transforming the systems through which adaptation is funded.”
In closing, Hon. Tabuya stated that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change appreciates the valuable work of researchers and partners in producing science-based evidence that informs policy, strengthens climate action and supports resilient communities across Fiji and the Pacific.
Professors Christoph Nedopil (centre) and Chris Fleming (right) listening to the Minister’s opening address. (Photo supplied)
Over the course of the workshop, participants explored how climate finance can be made more responsive to Indigenous priorities. They examined pathways for direct access to funding, innovative financing models, stronger partnerships, and approaches that respect Indigenous rights, values and decision-making authority.
The workshop fostered a multidisciplinary and multinational Community of Practice centred on Indigenous climate adaptation and financing. Several initiatives have been proposed to continue collaboration and knowledge exchange, including
Mutual support and potential co-organisation of pre-COP31 events in Fiji
Development of a climate adaptation finance group within the Association of Development Finance Institutions in the Pacific (ADPFIF)
The workshop convenors acknowledge the generous funding from the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN).
As the Pacific region prepares for COP31, the workshop demonstrated the growing momentum behind Indigenous-led climate adaptation across the Pacific and the value of collaborative approaches to climate finance.
