Kalfau Kaloris
Director General
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade
Port Vila
Vanuatu
Email: [email protected] OR [email protected]
Director
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade
Port Vila
Vanuatu
Email: [email protected]
Mr. Richard Balkonan
Head, Asia-Pacific Division
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade
Port Vila
Vanuatu
Email: [email protected]
Mr. Trinison Tari
Acting Director, Department of Environment Protection and Conservation
Ministry of Climate Change and Adaptation
Port Vila
Vanuatu
Email: [email protected] OR [email protected]
Mr. Mike Waiwai
Director
Department of Climate Change
PMB 9054
Port Vila
Vanuatu
Email: [email protected]
Date updated: April 2024
Country Overview
Capital: Port Villa
Land: 12,190 sq km
EEZ: 680,000 sq km
Population: 204,000 (2003 est.)
Language: Bislama, English, French, local languages
Currency: Vatu
Economy: Agriculture, fisheries and tourism
The Republic of Vanuatu is an island nation located in the Western Pacific Ocean. The country is an archipelago of over 80 islands stretching 1,300 kilometres from North to South.
Vanuatu’s terrain is mostly mountainous, with narrow coastal plains where larger islands are characterised by rugged volcanic peaks and tropical rainforests. Vanuatu is located in a seismically and volcanically active region and has high exposure to geologic hazards, including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis and landslides.
Vanuatu’s national vision as per the Government’s Priority and Action Agenda (PAA) 2006-2015 is “An Educated, Healthy and Wealthy Vanuatu”. The goal of the Government of Vanuatu (GoV) is to raise the welfare of its people, and main agendas for action include growing the productive sector, especially agriculture and tourism, maintaining macroeconomic balance, raising public service performance, cutting costs associated with transport and utilities, and improving access to basic services such as health and education. Government of Vanuatu is also committed to achieving MDG goals and targets and significant progress has been made towards achieving the MDG Goals.
Vanuatu is one of the country’s most vulnerable to climate change among the other Pacific island nations. The effects of climate change on agriculture production, fisheries, human health, tourism and well-being will have the consequences of decreasing national income while increasing key social and infrastructure costs. Climate change may affect all areas of life for Ni-Vanuatu people and impact women, men and young people in different ways.
Vanuatu has positioned itself as a regional leader in the fields of Climate Change (CC) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and has been widely applauded for its initiative to establish a National Advisory Board for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction (NAB) as a means of improving coordination and governance around the two issues. Vanuatu’s implementation of the UNFCCC has progressed exponentially in recent years as government sector agencies become more organized and civil society, academic, the private sector, development partners and regional agencies have stepped up their activities in Vanuatu.
Vanuatu is committed to formulating strategies, national policies and best practices for addressing GHG emissions and making a practical contribution to the global mitigation efforts. While at the same time the country is also pursuing its national and regional development priorities and sustainable development objectives. The development objectives are planned to be achieved by integrating GHG abatement efforts with other social, environmental and economic priorities.
Source: ©SPC, 2013.
Date updated: March 2016
[1] United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office [UKFCO] (2011). Asia and Oceania: Vanuatu. Retrieved fromhttp://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/asia-oceania/vanuatu?profile=all
[2] Climate Change in the Pacific, Volume 2: Country Reports, Chapter 16: Vanuatu. Accessed on 29 May 2013,http://www.cawcr.gov.au/projects/PCCSP/publications1.html, p. 245.
[3] Vanuatu Country Profile, (2000). South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC).http://dev.sopac.org.fj/VirLib/CP0014.pdf
Current Climate
The latest climate science report shows that for Vanuatu, the maximum and minimum air temperatures increased at Bauerfield Airport (Port Vila) from 1948–2011 as did November–April and May–October maximum temperatures at Aneityum. This is consistent with global warming.
Annual and half-year rainfall trends show little change at Bauerfield Airport since 1907 and Aneityum since 1949. Extreme daily rainfall trends also show little change at Aneityum and Bauerfield Airport since 1945.
Tropical cyclones affect Vanuatu mainly between November and April. An average of 24 cyclones per decade developed within or crossed the Vanuatu Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between the 1969/70 to 2010/11 seasons. Twenty-nine of the 71 tropical cyclones (41%) between the 1981/82 and 2010/11 seasons were severe events (Category 3 or stronger) in the Vanuatu EEZ.
Wind-waves around Vanuatu do not vary significantly throughout the year, having fairly constant wave heights and periods, and being typically directed from the south-east. Waves are influenced by the southern trade winds and movement of the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ), and display some variability on inter annual time scales with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Southern Annular Mode (SAM).
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO, 2014.
Future Climate
For the period to 2100, the latest global climate model (GCM) projections and climate science findings for Vanuatu indicate:
- El Niño and La Niña events will continue to occur in the future (very high confidence), but there is little consensus on whether these events will change in intensity or frequency;
- Annual mean temperatures and extremely high daily temperatures will continue to rise (very high confidence);
- Mean annual rainfall could increase or decrease with the model average indicating little change (low confidence), with more extreme rain events(high confidence);
- Incidence of drought is projected to decrease slightly under the high emission scenario and stay
- approximately the same under the other emissions scenarios (low confidence);
- Ocean acidification is expected to continue (very high confidence);
- The risk of coral bleaching will increase in the future (very high confidence);
- Sea level will continue to rise (very high confidence); and
- Wet season wave heights and periods are projected to decrease slightly (low confidence), with no significant changes projected in the dry season (low confidence).
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO, 2014.
Date updated: March 2016
Governance
Vanuatu National Advisory Board on Climate Change & Disaster Risk Reduction is co-chaired by the Director of Vanuatu Meteorology & Geohazards Department and the Director of the National Disaster Management Office. The NAB is supported by a full-time Secretariat housed under the Ministry of Climate Change.
Environmental management is the responsibility of the Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation, although other departments including the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development and Department of Forestry also have responsibilities in relation to environmental issues. Many NGOs are also active in the climate change environment sector in Vanuatu. Two networks exists which bring NGOs and government together in this sector including the Vanuatu Climate Action Network (VCAN) and the Vanuatu Humanitarian Team (VHT).
Modern legislation has been introduced for environmental management. The Environmental Management and Conservation Act was passed in 2002 and provides for the conduct of environmental impact assessments and for biodiversity and protected areas. A National Environmental Policy is now under development.
Date updated: March 2016
National Climate Change Priorities
The major climate change concerns of Vanuatu are projected sea level rise, sea temperature rise and the possible increase in intensity cyclones and other major storm events. Other concerns include climate variability, climate extremes, a decline in cool days, and ocean acidification. Based on these projections, Vanuatu has identified the following sector-based needs to reduce its vulnerability to the impacts of climate change (VMS, 1999; NACCC, 2007, NCAS 2011):
- Agriculture: The diversification of crops to help increase the resilience of agricultural systems to climatic extremes; and better understanding of climate resilient farming systems in the face of changes in productivity, pests/pathogens and the climatic growth requirements of subsistence crops.
- Human Health: Furthering the work that has already been done in environmental management to aid in the control of malaria, dengue and filariasis; researching proper waste disposal to minimise contamination in the face of cyclones/floods; and management of surface water to maintain quality and supply.
- Freshwater Resources: Management of water catchments to minimize pressure on groundwater resources; reducing vulnerability of the water supply in rural and urban areas; water conservation efforts; and expansion of rainwater storage capacity through rainwater harvesting.
- Coastal Developments: Land Use Planning, modelling of the storm surge zone with consideration of sea level rise; building codes for infrastructure to be able to withstand cyclones, high floodwater flows and high intensity rainfall; exclusion of extractive activities from the coastal zone; replanting littoral vegetation in cleared and degraded areas; identifying areas that are highly vulnerable and planning for worst case impacts to communities; and technical planning for relocation of communities.
- Coastal Marine Environments: Community based marine resource management programs that consider modern and traditional management strategies, small-scale and backyard aquaculture; and planning around local economic opportunities that are an alternative to the harvesting of marine resources, management of coral bleaching and degradation of the marine environment,
- Forestry: Promoting sustainable forestry management, climate resilient tree species, REDD+ and carbon sequestration.
- ocial and Cultural Concerns: Identification of coping strategies for the impacts of climate change on food security, land resources and water availability; and fostering collaboration between social institutions to identify and prioritize social vulnerabilities.
- Broad Economic Impacts: Land Use and Management, Diversification of agricultural products and farming systems; selection of plant varieties that are better suited to predicted future climates; identifying opportunities to reduce reliance on coastal marine resources; relocating infrastructure to areas of low vulnerability; and introducing sustainable tourism programs.
Date updated: March 2016
Adaptation
For Vanuatu, as an LDC, the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) process identified and prioritised adaptation priority needs that were urgent and immediate - those needs for which further delay could increase vulnerability or lead to increased costs at a later stage.
The Vanuatu NAPA identified 11 top adaptation priorities through a national consultation process. These adaptation priorities were further refined to include 5 top priorities for support and implementation. The 5 NAPA priorities include:
- Agriculture and food security
- Sustainable tourism development
- Community based marine resource management
- Sustainable forest management
- Integrated water resource management
Out of the 5 top priorities, Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) financing has been sourced to further elaborate and implement priorities 1 and 5 while a concepts for 2 is being developed. Health, which is among the 6 priorities was not selected for concept development however given interest from key implementing agencies, financing from the LDCF has been secured for concept development and implementation.
The NAPA further recognised that the following core issues were relevant to all priorities and should be an integral part of any proposed activities;
- Awareness raising at all levels
- Capacity building including institutional capacity
- Research and development
- Promotion of appropriate traditional knowledge and practices
- Technology Transfer
- Education and training
- Mainstreaming of climate change and disaster risk reduction
- Consideration of marine and terrestrial Biodiversity issues
The National Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Policy identifies 5 key adaptation strategic priorities and associated actions to further enhance the national adaptation efforts and build resilience across sectors. These strategic priorities from 2015 to 2020 include the need for:
- Climate Change vulnerability and multi sector impact assessments
- Integrated climate change and disaster risk reduction
- Community based adaptation
- Loss and damage
- Ecosystem based approaches
Date updated: March 2016
Mitigation
The main mitigation contribution is to achieve the outcomes and targets under the National Energy Road Map (NERM) and Second National Communication (SNC) extended to 2030. The mitigation contribution for the Vanuatu INDC submission is a sector specific target of transitioning to close to 100% renewable energy in the electricity sector by 2030. This target would replace nearly all fossil fuel requirements for electricity generation in the country and be consistent with the National Energy Road Map (NERM) target of 65% renewable energy by 2020. This contribution would reduce emissions in the energy sector by 72Gg by 2030. Emissions in this sector were around 130 Gg in 2010 but are expected to rise to 240 Gg by 2030 (3% per annum).
The mitigation would thus reduce BAU emissions in the electricity sub-sector by 100% and in the energy sector as a whole by 30%. The target would be conditional, depending on funding commensurate with putting the transition in place being made available from external sources. In addition, Vanuatu will pursue the other mitigation measures in the Vanuatu National Energy Roadmap (2013- 2020), the Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries (SREP) report and Vanuatu’s Renewables Readiness Assessment (RRA) report undertaken by IRENA. These measures would include a vigorous program of energy efficiency to reduce emissions in all sectors except agriculture and forestry by 15%. The transition to renewable energy based electricity could be accelerated through review and revision of agricultural (coconut oil sector) national policy. Opportunities for reducing the high emissions levels in agriculture will simultaneously be pursued with cooperative programs with nations having similarly high emissions in this sector. The forestry sector mitigation will be attended to as part of the existing REDD+ program. The Government is also aware that waste management is another area that needs attention.
Intended Nationally Determined Contributions
Vanuatu mitigation contribution is for the period 2020 - 2030for defining contribution or outcomes as follows:
Type and level of commitment:
Sectoral commitment focussed on a transition to renewable energy in the electricity generation sub-sector under energy generation. To approach 100% renewable energy in the electricity sub-sector contingent upon appropriate financial and technical support made available. 100% below BAU emissions for electricity sub-sector and 30% for energy sector as a whole
Estimated quantified emissions impact:
In addition to the carbon storage in the forest and ocean ecosystem, Vanuatu unconditional contribution will reduce 8,300 tCO2e annually Vanuatu’ conditional contribution (with international assistance) will reduce emissions by 18,800 tCO2e annually by 2025, and by 31,125 tCO2e annually by 2030.
Coverage | % of National emissions | INDC covers fossil fuels and forest sequestration. Fossil-fuel use covers more than 95% of the reported national inventory |
|---|---|---|
| Gases | Carbon dioxide |
| Sectors | Mainly electricity generation sub-sector but with ancillary mitigation possible in forestry, agriculture, transport and energy efficiency sector wide. The key planned mitigation interventions include: Doubling of the wind installed capacity to 5.5 MW by 2025 Installing 10 MW grid connected solar PV by 2025 Commissioning the proposed first stage 4 MW Geothermal plant by 2025 Adding 10 MW grid connected solar PV by 2030 Commissioning the second stage 4 MW Geothermal plant by 2030 Substituting and/or replacement of fossil fuels with coconut oil based electricity generation The proposed interventions would need substantial external funding of around US$180 million to proceed at the time frame needed. In addition, substantial technology transfer would be required including institutional support and training. Additional planned mitigation interventions include: National Energy Road Map (US$ 210.5 million indicative - with some overlap) Rural Electrification Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) (US$ 5 million indicative) Off grid renewable energy projects under Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries Program (US $34.2 million) Energy efficiency measures to be pursued across the board to enable 15% savings in the energy sector. Forestry sector measures to reduce deforestation and promote good land care to accepted mitigation practices according to REDD+ Planned cooperation with New Zealand and other nations interested in mitigating methane (CH4) and associated emissions for ruminant and pasture management |
| Geographical boundaries | Whole of country |
Methodology: | The electricity sector emissions were analysed using data from the utilities, customs department and relevant assessments, studies and reports from development partners and civil society organizations. The data for electricity generation were entered into the GHG emission estimation model and converted to CO2 emissions using standard conversion factors. The extrapolated data from the above sources suggests the kWh consumption in the electricity sector will rise at 3.6% per annum until 2020 after which a slightly lower growth rate is used to give an average increase of 3% until 2030. Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories and UNFCCC software “Non Annex 1 National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Software, Version 1.3.3 was used for the GHG Inventory. Sectoral data for GHG estimation compiled from various sources primarily using national data collected from annual reports, statistical reports, studies and brochures of related department/institutions. The projections of emissions data to 2010 was reported in the SNC from similar data sources as the 2000 data and has a similar uncertainty analysis | |
Planning Process
| Vanuatu’s INDCs is well aligned with the Government’s Priority Action Agenda Policy Objective 4.5 which is most relevant to Climate Change and states, “to ensure the protection and conservation of Vanuatu’s natural resources and biodiversity, taking climate change issues in consideration.” The contribution is also based on the research undertaken for a number of national initiatives including the Vanuatu National Energy Roadmap (2013- 2020), the Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries (SREP) report, Rural electrification NAMA design document by UNDP MDG Carbon and Vanuatu’s Renewables Readiness Assessment (RRA) report undertaken by IRENA. In addition, relevant data and information has been used from the Government of Vanuatu and various private and civil society organizations. Extensive consultations with all relevant stakeholders were held during the preparation of Vanuatu’s INDC | |
Adaptation Priorities & Goals | For Vanuatu, as an LDC, the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) process identified and prioritised adaptation priority needs that were urgent and immediate - those needs for which further delay could increase vulnerability or lead to increased costs at a later stage. The Vanuatu NAPA identified 11 top adaptation priorities through a national consultation process. These adaptation priorities were further refined to include 5 top priorities for support and implementation. The 5 NAPA priorities include:
Out of the 5 top priorities, Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) financing has been sourced to further elaborate and implement priorities 1 and 5 while a concepts for 2 is being developed. Health, which is among the 6 priorities was not selected for concept development however given interest from key implementing agencies, financing from the LDCF has been secured for concept development and implementation. The NAPA further recognised that the following core issues were relevant to all priorities and should be an integral part of any proposed activities; a. Awareness raising at all levels b. Capacity building including institutional capacity c. Research and development d. Promotion of appropriate traditional knowledge and practices e. Technology Transfer f. Education and training g. Mainstreaming of climate change and disaster risk reduction h. Consideration of marine and terrestrial Biodiversity issues The National Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Policy identifies 5 key adaptation strategic priorities and associated actions to further enhance the national adaptation efforts and build resilience across sectors. These strategic priorities from 2015 to 2020 include the need for:
| |
Date updated: March 2016
Knowledge Management & Education
In the curriculum review process, Vanuatu decided to strengthen foundations and basic concepts of climate change and disaster risk management across different subjects from Kindergarten to Year 13. The process to introduce relevant elements into national teacher training programs has commenced.
Climate change has been incorporated into the Vanuatu National Curriculum Statement, the syllabus and assessment standards, taking the principles of Education for Sustainable Development into account. Education institutions are supported to develop and offer corresponding trainings and education resources. In addition to this integration, a school policy on education in emergency was launched in late 2013. The policy ensures that education needs are not disrupted as a result of disasters.
The Ministry of Education identified the children’s book ‘Pou and Miri – Learn to tackle climate change’ as a useful literacy and climate change resource and CCCPIR provided French and English copies to be disseminated to area schools and kindergartens.
Vanuatu has initiated capacity building of Met service staff undertaking a doctoral studies in Climate Change at the University of the South Pacific. There are also Ni-Vanuatu students at the University studying postgraduate level studies in the area of Climate Change which is an encouraging outcome for skilled professionals in this area.
Date updated: March 2016