ALM UNDP

Summary:

Pacific-German Regional Programme Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region VANUATU COMPONENT

Quick Facts: Project Duration: 01/2009 -12/2015

Implementation Partner: Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) & Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)

Project Countries: Vanuatu + 11 other PICs

Funded by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Introduction

Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are hit hard by climate change due to the high vulnerability and insufficient adaptation abilities. The predicted sea-level rise, changes in precipitation patterns and rising temperatures will have negative effects on these countries. Coastal erosion, salt water intrusion, changes to cyclone, and changing ecosystems place a heavy burden on the sustainable development of the PICs.

The ‘Coping with climate change in the Pacific Island Region (CCCPIR)’ programme aims to strengthen the capacities of Pacific member countries and regional organisations to cope with the impacts of climate change. The programme is funded by the government of the Federal Republic of Germany through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented through GIZ working in partnership with SPC and SPREP.

The programme commenced its activities in 2009 working with Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu. As of 2011 it has been expanded to another nine Pacific Island Countries and the duration has been extended until 2015. At the regional level, the project aligns with the Pacific Island Framework for Action on Climate Change 2006-2015 (PIFACC).

COMPONENT 2: MAINSTREAMING CLIMATE CONSIDERATIONS AND ADAPTATIONS STRATEGIES

Component 2 focuses on supporting Vanuatu’s national priorities in the area of mainstreaming climate change into national, local government and sectoral policies and strategies and where appropriate their integration with disaster risk reduction and biodiversity activities. In Vanuatu, the CCCPIR programme has enabled mainstreaming at the national level including an amendment of the Environmental Management & Conservation Act and its associated Regulations.

In addition the programme supported climate integration in the new National Curriculum Statement. A draft National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy is nearing completion and national endorsement after months of stakeholder consultations and expert technical inputs throughout the country and across sectors. CCCPIR is currently involved in the mainstreaming of an amendment to the Foreshore Development Act.

At the sectoral level, CCCPIR has completed a revision and mainstreaming of the National Forest Policy, and is working with the National Provident Fund to mainstream a new Livestock Investment Scheme. Recently CCCPIR has initiated a programme to mainstream climate change considerations into land use planning including the development of a draft National Land Use Planning Policy, and revising the Land Lease Issuance Process to include CCA & DRR considerations.

CCCPIR has also developed a draft National Climate Change Communication Strategy. Recently the Vanuatu programme has joined forces with the Vanuatu Meteorology Services to develop Seasonal Climate Forecasts with adaptation advice to farmers. The Vanuatu CCCPIR programme has begun the design of a national climate change information database which will enable the collection and dissemination of climate change reports, project proposals, V&A assessments and stakeholder contacts. Informed members and skilled trainers of the different sectors of the society are the basis for a sustainable change.

Specific activities in Vanuatu have included the training of departmental directors and DGs, training of journalists, GIS trainings for land sector officials, training for agriculture extension officers, training of lecturers and teachers, and practical training on CC adaptation with communities. The programme has developed Vanuatu’s first Bislama-language DVD on Climate Change in Vanuatu, disseminated to over 30 islands and over 100 communities in Vanuatu.

COMPONENT 3: IMPLEMENTING ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION MEASURES

Component 3 focuses on the implementation of adaptation and mitigation measures, particularly at the community level. Implementing model projects on climate change adaptation on pilot sites will be of crucial importance in order to gather experiences on the ground and feed them back into the national strategic processes and create success stories of concrete adaptation measures. An intensive consultation process to identify suitable pilot sites and the scope and content of the pilot projects was carried out.

Two Pilot Sites were selected: Pele Island, susceptible to the climate change impacts of sea level rise, costal inundation, rainfall variability, soil nutrient loss, and coastal & hillside erosion. Teouma Community, Efate Island, susceptible to climate change impacts of rainfall variability, soil nutrient loss, high wind exposure, and excessive temperatures.

Adaptation options for field trials were developed by government technical experts reflecting national priorities and building on the results of detailed Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessments carried out in the pilot sites.

To further highlight adaptation options, the programme worked alongside the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and five other national partners to develop an add on Agricultural and Climate Change Assessment to the V&A methodology. Demonstration activities being trialled and evaluated for upscaling in the Pilot Sites include Coastal & Hillside Erosion Control Measures through Forestry, Soil Enhancement & Composting, Innovative Farming Systems, Crop Diversity Trails for Climate Resilience, Adapted Farming System designs for CC Resilience, Livestock Breeding Trials for CC Resilience, and Integrated Agriculture & Livestock Systems