Vanuatu is expected to incur, on average, 48 million
USD per year in losses due to earthquakes and tropical
cyclones. In the next 50 years, Vanuatu has a 50% chance
of experiencing a loss exceeding 330 million USD and
casualties larger than 725 people, and a 10% chance
of experiencing a loss exceeding 540 million USD and
casualties larger than 2,150 people.
 

The Pacific developing member countries (DMCs) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are a diverse array of countries with widely varying topographies, cultures and economies, fragile natural resource environments, and prosperity, stability, and security that can be compromised by the impacts and consequences of climate change. The Pacific island governments view climate change as a priority issue, especially in terms of its potential impacts on food security, and need clear directions in addressing both issues.

Climate Change in the Pacific is a rigorously researched, peer-reviewed scientific assessment of the climate of the western Pacific region. Building on the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, this two volume publication represents a comprehensive resource on the climate of the Pacific.

“By reducing the vulnerability of Vanuatu’s vital sectors and communities now to current climate-related risks should place the country in a better position to cope with future climate change and to build sustainable ni-Vanuatu communities. The ideal approach to adaptation in Vanuatu is a pro-active, no-regrets approach which encompasses measures and strategies which can be implemented in the present with the aim of reducing vulnerability in the future.

The Republic of Vanuatu ratified the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on 09 March 1993, and submitted its Initial National Communication (INC) to the UNFCCC on 30 October 1999. Following the preparation of its INC, Vanuatu has initiated efforts to create an institutional set-up that seeks to mainstream climate change issues into the national legal frameworks. Moreover, its INC provides compelling evidence that, by global standards, Vanuatu is one of the nations most vulnerable to climate change and sea-level rise.

Vanuatu ranks as the world’s most vulnerable country due to its high exposure to natural disasters, scattered island geography, narrow economic base, inadequate communication and transportation networks, and limited capacity to cope with disasters including those caused or exacerbated by the effects of climate change. Annually Vanuatu is impacted by a number of cyclones, which are expected to become more intense under current climatic projections, with coastal communities and ecosystems being most vulnerable and impacted by these events.