Search the SPREP Catalogue

In the Cook Islands, the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) project focuses on coastal zone management on Mangaia Island. The project is helping to ‘climate-proof’ coastal development, and to develop an integrated coastal management policy and plan for Mangaia

On all islands in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) rainwater is the primary source of freshwater, putting the country at high risk from droughts. The water sector was therefore chosen by the RMI Government to benefit from the PACC project, and the project has been working since 2008 to increase the country’s resilience to drought events. This report details the process undertaken in the PACC demonstration project, to design and implement various measures to enhance Majuro’s water reticulation system.

In Solomon Islands, the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) project focused on food security, with a goal ‘to contribute to reduced vulnerability and increased adaptive capacity to adverse effects of climate change in Solomon Islands’. The pilot sites for the demonstration projects were the low lying atolls of Ontong Java and, in a second phase, Sikaiana. These atolls are extremely isolated and are highly vulnerable in many respects. Climaterelated threats mainly come from sea level rise and extreme weather events, and impacts on food security include contamination of the freshwater lens affecting crop production. Associated soil salinisation, as well as loss of land through erosion, also have serious implications for subsistence food production in locations that are already stressed.

In the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) project focused on coastal zone management on the island of Kosrae, and specifically the ‘climate proofing’ of a section of island road. The choice of project was influenced by earlier work under the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded Climate Adaptation in the Pacific (CLIMAP) project in 2005, which identified the need for climate proofing of the road, and carried out various assessments and analyses, but did not complete the on-the-ground work.

In Fiji, the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) project focused on food security, with a goal ‘to contribute to reducing vulnerability and increasing adaptive capacity to adverse effects of climate change in the food sector of Fiji’. More specifically, the project aimed to enhance and, where necessary, to develop new drainage design features for drainage networks and infrastructure at two pilot sites in lowland farming areas of Fiji. Baseline information and expert opinion collected during the consultation stage indicated that the current infrastructure of drainage networks was unlikely to cope with increased water flow as a result of projected changes in rainfall regimes and sea level (both through sea level rise and storm surge). As a result there would be an increase in the damage caused by prolonged flooding of cropland as well as adverse effects on the livelihoods of lowland farmers. The project also evaluated the use of climate-resilient crop varieties as a tool with which to manage conditions caused by climate change, such as waterlogging.

In Niue, the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) project is building resilience to climate variability and climate change by improving the country’s water resources management. This technical report was developed as part of the PACC demonstration project, to detail the process undertaken to design and implement a rainwater tank manufacturing plant in Niue and supply eligible households on Niue with rainwater harvesting systems. The goal of the project is to provide an additional source of water to Niueans, by developing the country’s rainwater harvesting capacity at domestic level. Initially aimed at the most vulnerable households on Niue, the project has been extended to all 14 villages on the island under additional funding called PACC+.

In Tokelau, the PACC+ project is building resilience to drought by improving the territory’s water resources management. As Tokelau is a territory of New Zealand, it was not able to benefit from the Global Environment Facility-funded Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) programme. However, the country did benefit from additional funding to the PACC programme made available from the Australian Government in 2011, called PACC+. This guide, developed as part of the PACC+ demonstration project, details the process undertaken to design and implement various measures to enhance household and communal rainwater harvesting infrastructures in Tokelau.

The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) project in Tonga focuses on water resources management, and specifically on improving the water supply system in Hihifo District, Tongatapu. Adaptation measures demonstrated by the project include upgrading water infrastructure to improve water collection and storage, increasing the options for sourcing and distributing water, and improving water quality. The project worked with the six villages of Fo’ui, Ha’avakatolo, Kolovai, ‘Ahau, Kanokupolu, and Ha’atafu.

In the Cook Islands, the PACC project focuses on coastal zone management on Mangaia Island. The objective of the project is to ‘climate proof’ coastal infrastructure, both through on-the-ground activities and also by mainstreaming climate risk into relevant policy and planning for the coastal zone. After early consultations, climate proofing of Mangaia harbour became the main focus for the demonstration project. This report provides a comprehensive description of the demonstration project, from inception and early planning stages through design and implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. It also presents best practices and lessons learned along the way that could guide others carrying out similar adaptation activities.

The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) programme is the largest climate change adaptation initiative in the Pacific region, with projects in 14 countries and territories. PACC has three main areas of activity: practical demonstrations of adaptation measures; driving the mainstreaming of climate risks into national development planning and activities; and sharing knowledge in order to build adaptive capacity. The goal of the programme is to reduce vulnerability and to increase adaptive capacity to the adverse effects of climate change in three key climate-sensitive development sectors: coastal zone management, food security and food production, and water resources management. The programme began in 2009 and is scheduled to end in December 2014.