South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)

ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGEINCORPORATING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATIONINTO DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN PACIFIC ISLANDCOUNTRIES

A SET OF GUIDELINES FOR

POLICYMAKERS AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNERS

SPREP Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

Campbell, John Adapting to climate change : incorporating climatechange adaptation into development activities inPacific island countries : a set of guidelines forpolicymakers and development planners / preparedby John Campbell and Neil de Wet. – Apia, Samoa: SPREP, 2000.

v, 16 p. + annex : tables, figs. ; 29 cm.

ISBN: 982-04-0207-7

1. Climatic changes – Guidelines – Oceania.2. Climatology – Oceania. 3. Environmental policy- Oceania. I. de Wet, Neil. II. Climate Change andIntegrated Coastal Management Programme.III. South Pacific Regional Environment Programme.IV. Title.

551.6

Published in February 2000 by theSouth Pacific Regional Environment ProgrammePO Box 240Apia, Samoawww.sprep.org.ws

Produced by SPREP’s Climate Change and Integrated CoastalManagement Programme through the Pacific Islands Climate ChangeAssistance Programme (PICCAP) with funding assistance from GEF,UNDP.

Edited by SPREP’s Publication UnitManuscript Editor Carole HunterLayout and design by Michael von Reiche

Typeset in 10/12 Century SchoolbookPrinted on recycled paper 90gsm Savannah Matt Art (60%) byStredder Print LtdAuckland, New Zealand

© South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, 2000.The South Pacific Regional Environment Programmeauthorises the reproduction of this material, whole or inpart, in any form provided appropriateacknowledgement is given.

Original Text: English

This report was prepared for the South Pacific Regional Environment Programmeby John Campbell and Neil de Wet of the International Global Change Institute (IGCI).University of Waikato, New Zealand.

ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGEINCORPORATING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATIONINTO DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN PACIFIC ISLANDCOUNTRIES

A SET OF GUIDELINES FOR

POLICYMAKERS AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNERS

SPREP’s Climate Changeand Integrated CoastalManagement Programme

GEF

i

Executive Summary

This document has been developed as a draft set ofguidelines for the implementation and funding of ad-aptation to climate change and sea level rise in Pa-cific Island Countries.

It has been developed through a process involvingconsultation and discussion with personnel involvedin climate change activities, development planning andenvironmental management in Pacific Island Coun-tries.

Pacific Island Countries have been identified as be-ing particularly vulnerable to the effects of climatechange and associated sea level rise (CC and SLR).

As the Pacific Island Countries are not significantgreenhouse gas producers, they can take minimal di-rect action to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.Even with international initiatives to reduce globalgreenhouse gas emissions, Pacific Island Countrieswill need to take action to adapt to the adverse effectsof CC and SLR.

Optimal adaptation approaches will be anticipatoryapproaches that facilitate the inclusion of adaptationoptions into development.

Three strategies of adaptation are proposed to facili-tate the inclusion of adaptation options into develop-ment:

• Strategy 1: Incorporating CC and SLRconsiderations into new development proposals;

• Strategy 2: Developing proposals which arespecifically aimed at addressing the possibleeffects of CC and SLR;

• Strategy 3: Developing proposals forstrengthening institutional and technicalcapacity to facilitate Strategies 1 and 2 andmanage the effects of CC and SLR.

Strategy 1 makes use of a step-by-step CC and SLRadaptation process to ensure that all new normaldevelopment proposals take full account of CC andSLR considerations.

Strategy 2 and 3 adaptation proposals may be identi-fied and initiated by the proposed National ClimateChange Co-ordinating Team and may also be submit-ted to the CC and SLR adaptation process.

All three strategies may receive support from interna-tional funds dedicated to adaptation in vulnerable de-veloping countries.

One such funding source is the Clean DevelopmentMechanism, which is expected to generate large sumsof money for adaptation in developing countries vul-nerable to CC and SLR, such as the Pacific IslandCountries.

ii

Acknowledgements

This document has come about through a process involving consultation and dialogue with personnel in thePacific region involved in climate change initiatives, environmental management and development planning.The contributions, ideas and input of those listed below are gratefully acknowledged:

Mr. Rooston Abraham, FSMMs. Taralyn Adam, NauruMr. Mike Ariki, Solomon IslandsMr. Atanteora Beiatau, KiribatiMr. Jagat Bhusan, FijiMs. Francis Bremmer, SamoaMr. Joseph Cain, NauruMs. Yumie Crisostomo, Marshall IslandsMr. Jone Feresi, FijiMr. John Howe, TuvaluMr. Melepone Isara, SamoaMr. Letasi Iulai, TuvaluMr. Joseph Konno, FSMMr. Leone Limalevu, FijiMr. Sailimalo Pati Liu, SamoaMr. Faatoia Malele, SamoaMr. Atchinson Marav Smith, VanuatuMr. Nga Mataio, Cook IslandsMs. Patricia Mawa, VanuatuMr. Prinesh Narayan, FijiMr. Ernest Nemaia, NiueMr. Nodel Neneiya, NauruMr. Anska Ouou, Solomon Islands

Ms. Avanoa Paelate, TuvaluMr. Kalo Pakoa, VanuatuMr. Kelvin Passfield, Cook IslandsMr. Andrew Pitcher, NauruMr. David Poihega, NiueMr. Nelson Rarua, VanuatuMr. Reboama Samuel, Cook IslandsDr. Simon Saulei, PNGMr. Seluka Seluka, TuvaluMr. Sumeo Silu, TuvaluMs. Janice Siulupa, Cook IslandsMr. Peter Solomona, Cook IslandsMr. Tianuare Taeuea, KiribatiMr. Henry Taiki, VanuatuMr. Mataio Tekinene, TuvaluMr. Ditrone Tom, NauruMr. Seremaia Tuquiri, FijiMr. Ioane Ubaitoi, KiribatiMr. Silverio Wale, Solomon IslandsMr. Tomoavao Wichman, Cook IslandsMs. Violet Wulf, SamoaMs. Fetoloai Yandall-Alama, SamoaMr. Douglas Yee, Solomon Islands

iii

Contents

Executive Summary ____________________________________________________________ i

Acknowledgements ____________________________________________________________ ii

Contents ________________________________________________ ____________________ iii

List of Abbreviations __________________________________________________________ iv

Glossary of Terms _____________________________________________________________ v

1 Introduction ______________________________________________________________ 1

2 Why is Climate Changing? __________________________________________________ 2

3 Uncertainties of Climate Change ______________________________________________ 3

4 How will Climate Change in the Pacific? _______________________________________ 4

5 The Effects of Climate Change and Sea Level Rise _______________________________ 5

6 What is Adaptation? _______________________________________________________ 6

7 When Should Anticipatory Adaptation Begin in the Pacific? ________________________ 8

8 Who Adapts? The Role of Governments ________________________________________ 9

9 Incorporating Adaptation into Development ____________________________________ 10

10 A Comprehensive Anticipatory Adaptation Response ____________________________ 11

11 Implementation of Adaptation Strategies ______________________________________ 12

12 The CC and SLR Adaptation Process _________________________________________ 13

13 The Clean Development Mechanism__________________________________________ 15

14 The Allocation of International Adaptation Funds _______________________________ 16

Annex I: Step-by-Step Guide to the CC and SLR Adaptation Process _________________ A-1

Annex II: Process Information Tables ___________________________________________ A-7

Annex III: Climate Change Contacts and Information Sources in the Pacific ____________ A-15

iv

List of Abbreviations

CC Climate Change

CDM Clean Development Mechanism

COP4 4th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC

EIA Environmental Impact Assessment

ENSO El Nino Southern Oscillation

GEF Global Environmental Facility

GHG Greenhouse Gas

PIC Pacific Island Country

PICCAP Pacific Island Climate Change Assistance Programme

SLR Sea Level Rise

SPREP South Pacific Regional Environment Programme

UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

V&A Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment

v

Glossary of Terms

Adaptation refers to those actions or activities thatpeople, individually or in groups, take in order toaccommodate, cope with or benefit from the effectsof climate change. People are continually adapting totheir environment and its variability. Adaptation toclimate change therefore may be defined as thecomponent of additional environmental adaptation thatis necessary in order to take climate change effectsinto account.

Anthropogenic climate change refers to change in theclimate system that is attributable to human activitiesas opposed to natural trends and variability.

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) refers to aflexibility mechanism established by the KyotoProtocol. Its main purpose is to enable developedcountries to obtain emissions reduction credits throughfinancing development projects in developingcountries that will contribute to reduced greenhousegas emissions. The mechanism also, however, has acomponent of funds targeted for adaptation projectsin particularly vulnerable countries.

An effect is a change in human-environmentrelationships that arises, or will arise, from climatechange. The term is a neutral one. It does not implymagnitude or direction of change.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is asystematic method of analysis of the effects of a

development on the social and biophysicalenvironment. Used in development planning and inproject appraisal, it is a useful tool providinginformation for decision makers.

An impact is an effect to which people have difficultyadapting. From this perspective an impact may bedescribed as a high cost adaptation.

Proposal in the context of this document refers to eithera proposed policy, programme, plan or project.

Sensitivity refers to the degree to which climate changeeffects bring about change (positive or negative) withinan entity that is exposed to climate change or its effects.

Vulnerability and Adaptation (V&A) Assessment is astudy which analyses to what extent a country (orsector or region, etc.) is vulnerable to the effects ofclimate change and identifies and evaluates adaptationoptions.

Vulnerability refers to the inability of an individualor group to adapt. Thus it does not simply refer toexposure to an effect, nor does it refer to sensitivity;however, given exposure and sensitivity, it refers tothe inability to respond. An important element ofvulnerability is the qualities of the vulnerableindividual or group that may hinder its ability to adapt.