The Pacific Islands region is experiencing climate change. Key indicators of the changing
climate include rising carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, rising air and sea temperatures,
rising sea levels and upper-ocean heat content, changing ocean chemistry and increasing
ocean acidity, changing rainfall patterns, decreasing base flow in streams, changing
wind and wave patterns, changing extremes, and changing habitats and species distributions.
Currently, the most vulnerable areas include low islands (atoll islands and other
This guide is designed to support a community-based or local level management and adaptation planning
process. It can be used to explore the non-climate change and climate change threats within a defined
geographic area or community in which there is a clear governing structure and decision-making process.
The area can be large or small as long as the planning team involved in facilitating the process has decisionmaking
authority or has the support from the governing authority of the area. For example, the area might
The Vulnerability Sourcebook provides step-by-step guidelines to conduct vulnerability assessments and to monitor changes in vulnerability over time. Repeating vulnerability assessments on a regular basis is a rather new approach and serves as a valuable tool for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of adaptation by showing whether a reduction in vulnerability has really been achieved.
Assessment of weaknesses and opportunities regarding Port Vila's vulnerability to climate change and disaster risk.
The Vulnerability and Needs Assessment (VNA) is a participatory social engagement tool that elicits information in a group setting about communities in a comprehensive, multi-sector approach. VNA’s allow for community members to identify for themselves any relevant vulnerabilities using their contextual knowledge (including those posed by climate change and natural disaster), contribute valuable baseline data about their community as well as define community priorities for development in a fairly short span of time.