Vanuatu is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change and disaster risks. The island nation experiences cyclones, storm surges, landslides, flooding and droughts, which may become more intense as a result of climate change. Vanuatu is also highly exposed to geophysical threats such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis, as well as human, animal and plant diseases, and human-caused disasters.

This poster highlights the benefits for small island-based tourism businesses in Vanuatu to utilize renewable energy.  It is jointly prepared by the Department of Tourism, the Department of Energy & GIZ. 

Attribution

must attribute to GIZDepartment of Tourism, Department of Energy, Ministry of Climate Change

Financed / Supported By

GIZ

Vanuatu Marine Ecosystem Service Valuation SUMMARY & Final report

This study,conducted in 2015, aimed to determine the economic value of seven marine and coastal ecosystem services in Vanuatu. The study forms part of the broader MACBIO project (Marine and Coastal Biodiversity Management in Pacific Island Countries and Atolls) that aims to strengthen the management of marine and coastal biodiversity in Pacific island countries.

Approach to Climate Change

Ocean warming may well turn out to be the greatest hidden challenge of our generation. This report represents the most comprehensive review to date on ocean warming. To build up the report, leading scientists from around the world were invited to join with colleagues to contribute individual chapters.  It contains many recommendations from the scientists on capability gaps and research issues that need to be resolved if we are to tackle the impacts of ocean warming with greater confidence in the future.

Le changement climatique est l'un des sujets dont on parle le plus dans le monde parce  qu'll affecte le quotidien de tous les habitants de la planete, y compris ceux qui vivent dans les iles du pacifique. Les scientifiques disent que lechangement climatique pourrait rendre les saisons chaudes plus longues et amener beacoup de pluies durant la saison humide.

This report explores the opportunities that recognising blue carbon could bring to Vanuatu. Commissioned by the Government of Vanuatu from the Commonwealth Secretariat, it sets out the opportunities, supportive arguments, and issues and potential barriers around incorporating blue carbon as part of their overall climate change adaptation and mitigation strategy.

Ol aelan blong Vanuatu oli save experiensem ol taem we i drae from El Niño moa wetwet tumas from La Niña. Ol taem olsem, wetem ol kaen weta olsem saeklon i save spoilem wota, kakai, infrastrakja (olsem haos mo rod), laef mo helt blong ol man. Be gudfala infomesen, woning wetem klaemet fokast i save helpem yumi blong save mo mekem ol man i redi from ol had taem we oli stap kam yet.

Les îles du Vanuatu sont exposées à des conditions d’extrême sécheresse ou de pluies intenses en raison des perturbations créées par
El Niño et La Niña. Ces conditions climatiques, ajoutées à des évènements extrêmes comme des cyclones, peuvent avoir de graves conséquences sur la qualité de l’eau, l’hygiène alimentaire, les infrastructures (maisons et routes, par exemple), les moyens de subsistence et la santé. Cependant, une bonne information climatique et météorologique, des alertes et des prévisions, peuvent nous aider à anticiper et à faire face à l’évolution des risques.

The Cloud Nasara animation and this tool kit aim to increase awareness of the science of El Niño and La Niña and their impacts. The tool kit also seeks to encourage discussion around how communities, schools, organisations, government departments and businesses in Vanuatu can access forecast information from the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazard Department (VMGD), pro-actively communicate and work together with other stakeholders, and take early action to prepare for future El Niño and La Niña events.

As part of the preparedness towards any forthcoming disasters and continuous monitoring of the agricultural sector, the RRU in collaboration with FAO and DARD have established an early warning early action system that is run by the Risk and Resilience Unit (RRU) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity (MALFFB) to the agricultural extension officers. The department of agriculture has a total of 45 extension officers that are based on all of the 6 provinces covering almost all the area councils of every island.

A national debriefing workshop to identify lessons learned following Tropical Cyclone Pam (TC Pam) was facilitatedby the Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) with support from the Pacific Community (SPC) and

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.

This Urban Risk Management Strategy (the URMS or the Strategy) provides a response to the hazards,  risks and urban growth trends identified for Vanuatu’s two urban areas, the greater Port Vila Urban Area and Luganville. It is Stage 3 of the Risk Mapping and Planning for Urban Preparedness Project (the Project) being undertaken by the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD) as part of the broader Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction Project.

“Adaptation to Climate Change in the Coastal Zone in Vanuatu” or the Vanuatu Coastal Adaptation Project (VCAP), will provide a valuable opportunity to the Vanuatu government to increase the resilience of its communities to future climate change induced risks such as declining coastal and marine resources and intensifying climate related hazards.

In 2013, the Government of Vanuatu and UNDP requested technical assistance from the USAID funded Adapt Asia-Pacific Project to support four specialists, including an International Gender Advisor, to prepare the “Adaptation to Climate Change in the Coastal Zone in Vanuatu Project” (VCAP).

The Project aims to enhance Early Warning Systems (EWSs) in the Pacific SIDS (Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu) , thereby contributing to building greater resilience to hydrometeorological hazards in the region. The proposed scope of the hazards for which EWSs will be created or enhanced is severe weather – including tropical cyclones, floods, drought and sea predictions. The warnings will be issued and acted upon hours, days, weeks and - in the case of drought - months ahead of the hazard occurring.

The Ministry of Climate Change, Government of Vanuatu, contracted NIWA (The National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd) for the ‘Supply, delivery and installation of Automatic Weather Stations in 6 different locations in Vanuatu’ (SC G02). 

This work supports the Adaptation to Climate Change in the Coastal Zone in Vanuatu (V-CAP) project, funded by the Global Environment Facility, implemented by UNDP and the Vanuatu Ministry of Climate Change.  

The work aligns with the Vanuatu Framework for Climate Services developed in 2016.

The project SC G01 between Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazard Department (VMGD) and Meteo France International (MFI) consists in supplying, delivering and installing an Integrated Weather Forecasting System. 

This phase of the project was focused on software installation, configuration and training of VMGD staff.