The environment of Vanuatu including its land based resources are extremely vulnerable to climate-related hazards, such as cyclones strong wind gusts, droughts, heats spells, floods and sea level rise/storm surges. Most of these hazards are precipitated by natural weather phenomena and therefore will be exacerbated by the current and future impacts of climate change. This vulnerability is a threat not only to the livelihoods of the people of Vanuatu but also to a healthy and prosperous nation.

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.

This animation is a tool to raise awareness of the science and impacts of El Niño and La Niña and encourage Pacific Islanders to take early action in preparing for these extreme events. The film stars a comical and highly resilient crab and follows her escapades across the Pacific.

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.

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.

Following TC Pam NDMO recognised the need for enhanced community based disaster risk management responses. As such over the last year NDMO has been working with its key in country partners to review, revise and update certain processes and tools. One of those DRM processes and tools is the community based disaster assessment process.

Coastal fisheries provide staple food and sources of livelihood in Pacific Island countries, and securing a sustainable supply is recognised as a critical priority for nutrition security. This study sought to better understand the role of fish for Pacific Island communities during disasters and in disaster recovery. To evaluate community impacts and responses after natural disasters, focus group discussions were held with men and women groups at ten sites across Shefa, Tafea, Malampa and Sanma provinces in Vanuatu.

Are you ready for La Nina? Read this brochure for some tips on how to prepare for La Nina events.

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

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.