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This proposal has been prepared by the Ocean and Islands Programme (OIP) within the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) in collaboration with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). It has been prepared in response to an invitation1 from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to assist the Cook Islands in deriving coastal related information to underpin and inform climate change adaptation decisions for coastal areas of Mangaia Island.

Technical report

The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change initiative is a regional effort that brings the Pacific nations together to enhance the capacity of countries to increase resilience and reduce vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change.Known simply as PACC, this regional effort constitutes an implementation framework, which caters for a long term approach to adaptation measures by strengthening policy frameworks, instituting design guidelines, and improving capacity with technical expertise. PACC projects are implemented nationally in any key areas; food production and food security, coastal management and water resource management.

The effects of climate change require strong actions from policy-makers, extension officers and communities to strengthen resilience to the expected negative impacts. Sea-level rise, changes in precipitation patterns and other effects cannot be avoided, but there are many means to reduce the vulnerability of communities. To equip the actors in this adaptation process with the right tools, the Regional Programme on Adaptation to Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region is setting up a knowledge management system including a database on climate change. A collection of best practices from the region and other parts of the world will be part of this venture. The collection of best practices from the region will be completed by the thematic teams of SPC Land Resources Division. This desk-study gathers examples from across the globe.

The Pacific-German Regional Programme on Adaptation to Climate Change supports the endeavour of Pacific countries to mainstream adaptation to climate change. Integrating climate change issues into the strategies and services of SPC programmes, and into the land use strategies and planning documents of Tonga and Vanuatu, are central aspects of the programme. But what do we mean when we talk about mainstreaming? Usually it is equivalent to integrating’ an issue into another area, such as a policy or an institution. In this document, mainstreaming adaptation refers to the incorporation of measures strategies and information to reduce vulnerability to climate change, in policies, strategies, programmes, development planning, institutions and decision-making processes.

Case studies on the Pacific Islands: Capacity Building for the Development of Adaptation Measures in Pacific island countries project - PACIFIC ISLANDS

Interest in the world’s forests has grown to unprecedented heights, especially with growing awareness of their role in the global carbon cycle. The possibility of mitigating climate change by reducing carbon emissions caused by deforestation and forest degradation, and by increasing carbon uptake through afforestation and sustainable forest management, highlights the essential role of forests in supporting life on Earth.