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The World Bank policy note “Not If, But When” shows the Pacific island countries to be among the world’s most vulnerable to natural disasters. Since 1950, natural disasters have directly affected more than 3.4 million people and led to more than 1,700 reported deaths in the Pacific Islands Region (excluding Papua New Guinea). In the 1990s alone, reported natural disasters cost the Region US$2.8 billion (in real 2004 value). The traditional approach of ”wait and mitigate” is a far worse strategy than proactively managing risks.

This Regional Stocktake highlights arrangements for supporting hazard and climate change risk management leading to disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) measures in Pacific island countries. Specifically the report identifies country and regional needs for supporting risk reduction programs, the primary players who are supporting such programs, gaps in delivering support and possible synergies, and comparative advantages among agencies active in this activity

This final report of the Kiribati National Capacity Self Assessment (NCSA) Project presents an overview of the self-assessment approach taken, the main findings of the stock-take and thematic assessments, the cross-cutting assessment findings and a strategy for developing capacity to address needs and gaps identified during the assessments. The report is part of a series of reports produced under the Kiribati National Capacity Self Assessment (NCSA) Project funded by the GEF. The aim of the NCSA is for countries that are Parties to the UNCBD, UNCCD and UNFCCC, to assess their own capacities and capacity development needs to address the requirements of the three conventions. The report builds on previous three stock-take and thematic assessment reports targeting each of the three conventions and presents the findings of a national cross-cutting assessment exercise to identify environmental as well as capacity issues that cut across the three conventions and their thematic areas. The aim of the assessment is to; identify cross-cutting issues, identify opportunities for synergies and strengthening integrated and coordinated approach to environment management and sustainable development.

Climate change variability has emerged as a significant, overarching and very real threat to tropical marine ecosystems globally. Its potential to cause extensive mortality to coral reef ecosystems and impact the communities who depend on them for a range of vital services (including food and income) is now little disputed. While this global phenomenon is largely beyond the control of local marine and coastal resource managers, meaningful action can be taken to respond to inevitable local impacts.

Since recession shocked the global economy in 2008, the meaning of ‘sustainability’ has taken on a new depth. Besides the long-running fear of environmental destruction – in particular in the ‘susceptible drylands’1 – and rising expectations of a ‘tipping point’ in climate change, a new question arises in the short run. Will ‘business as usual’ resume, with appropriate lessons learnt,2 or will the system fracture? Can consumption continue to exceed sensible restraint, or can a new order emerge in the relations between humankind and the global ecosystem?3 There are strong linkages between these questions. An additional question urgently needs answering: what will become of the Millennium Development Goals for the relief of poverty, injustice and inequity in the distribution of nature’s benefits?