Hon. Kandhi A. Eleisar
Secretary
Department of Foreign Affairs
PO Box PS 123
Palikir, Pohnpei
Federated States of Micronesia 96941
E-mail: [email protected] OR [email protected]
H.E. Andrew Yatilman
Secretary
Department of Environment, Climate Change and Emergency Management (DECCEM)
Palikir Station, Pohnpei State, FM 96941
Phone: (691) 320-8815
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Ms. Lucille Apis-Overhoff
Assistant Secretary
Department of Environment, Climate Change and Emergency Management (DECCEM)
Palikir Station, Pohnpei State, FM 96941
Phone: (691) 320-8815
Email: [email protected]
Ms. Cynthia Ehmes
Acting Secretary
Department of Environment, Climate Change and Emergency Management (DECCEM)
Palikir Station, Pohnpei State, FM 96941
Phone: (691) 320-8815
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Mr. Johannes Berdon
Manager National Weather Service Chuuk
National Weather Service Chuuk
Chuuk State
E-mail: [email protected]
Date updated: April 2024
Country Overview
Capital: Pohnpei
Land: 700 sq km
EEZ: 2.9 million sq km
Population: 112,000 (2003 est.)
Language: English, Micronesian languages
Currency: United States Dollar
Economy: Agriculture and fisheries
The independent, sovereign nation of the FSM, with a constitutional Government, was formed in 1979. FSM comprises part of what was generally known as the Eastern and Western Caroline Islands. It covers the largest and most diverse part of the greater Micronesian region. The federation is formed by the four States of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae (Figure 2).
FSM consists of 607 small islands, 74 of which are inhabited. The islands are spread over a vast region in the Western Pacific, between one degree south and 14 degrees north latitude, and between 135 and 166 degrees east longitude. The distance between the eastern-most State (Kosrae) and the western-most State (Yap) is 1,700 miles (2,700 km). Much of FSM lies just above the equator, about 2,500 miles (4,000 km) southwest of Hawaii and about 1,900 miles (3,000 km) north of eastern Australia. While the total land area of the FSM is only 271 square miles (702 km²), its vast exclusive economic zone (EEZ) covers an area of over one million square miles (2.5 million km²)
Political and Legislative
A Compact of Free Association (the Compact) was signed by the United States of America (USA) and FSM in 1986, leading to the trusteeship termination by the United Nations (UN) in 1991. This Compact agreement established a continuous close relationship between the FSM and the USA, through agreed mutual obligations and fiscal assistance. The Compact also grants FSM citizens access to USA federal programs, and favorable provisions for traveling to, and working in, the USA.
The FSM has four levels of governance – National, State, municipal, and traditional. The National Government, headquartered at Palikir on Pohnpei Island has three branches. Under FSM’s Constitution, Article V, Section 3, Congress may establish a Chamber of Chiefs, but to date, this has not been implemented. The legislative power of the National Government is vested in the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia. The Congress is comprised of four members (one from each State) elected for four-year terms and ten members (allocated to the States based on population) elected for two-year terms. The Executive power is vested in the President and Vice-President, elected by the Congress from amongst members serving four-year terms. Judicial power is vested in the FSM Supreme Court, headed by a Chief Justice who is assisted by up to five Associate Justices.
Each of FSM’s four State Governments has its own constitutional Government, consisting of the three branches: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. All States have a Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Executive offices are selected by the current Governor and approved by the State legislature. Each State may have fewer or more offices depending on their priorities and needs. Yap is the only State with a traditional leadership branch. This traditional leadership is made up of the Council of Pilung and the Council of Tamol, made up of the traditional chiefs of Yap Island proper, and from the neighbouring islands and atolls in Yap State, respectively.
The National Constitution of the FSM is the foundation of all legal authorities and decision-making processes for the Nation. There are four States in FSM, which have their respective constitution. The state constitutions allow the states to enact state legislation consistent with state powers as provided for in the FSM Constitution. The FSM Constitution provides concurrent powers for the States to function as semi autonomous governments in enacting legislation that address concerns and issues related to managing natural resources and to achieving sustainable development.
Under the Compact II, Article VI and Section 161 of Title II, FSM is committed to applying the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and “to develop and implement standards and procedures to protect its environment”. Responsibility for environmental and related issues is shared between the FSM National Government and the individual FSM State Governments.
Each FSM State has its own set of environmental and related laws and regulations geared to alleviate further damage to the nation’s fragile environment that is caused either by excessive human activity or by climate change. States take the lead role in ensuring that development is avoided in vulnerable areas as well as ensuring that critical natural systems are protected. Each State has made efforts to control development and manage natural resources through the creation of land use plans, coastal zone plans, legislation and regulations. The National Government provides guidance and technical assistance to the States when needed and requested on matters related to planning, economic development, natural resources, fisheries, and the environment.
In June, 2012, FSM Environmental Protection Act became Public Law. Its purpose is to:
>reflect the current functions and responsibilities of the National Government in the area of environmental management and protection;
>eliminate duplication of responsibilities between the National and State Governments in the area of environmental management and protection; and
>provide the Office of Environment and Emergency Management (OEEM) with the necessary legal authority to implement, via regulation, the multilateral environmental agreements that FSM had already ratified, including the UNFCCC.
The FSM Environment Sector Plan 2010-2015, prepared in accordance with the FSM Strategic Development Plan (SDP) 2004-2023, identifies achieving higher rates of compliance with environmental laws as a high priority for FSM National and State Governments. Among the most serious problems of environmental governance in FSM is that the laws and regulations are not enforced consistently or effectively. The new Environment Protection Act endeavors to address this and related issues, in part by strengthening enforcement action and by requiring the Director of OEEM to provide, on an annual basis, an environmental quality report covering the status and conditions of the environment of FSM, and a review of the programs and activities of the National Government, State Governments, municipal Governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), with particular reference to their effect on the environment of the country.
Each of the four States is centred on one or more main high islands. All but Kosrae State includes numerous outlying atolls. The capital of FSM, Palikir, is located in Pohnpei State. Many of the islands in FSM are extinct shield volcanoes, with steep and rugged centers that are densely vegetated and eroded. Mangroves grow around the coastal fringes. Land elevations range up to about 2,500 feet (760 m). Other islands are relatively flat, small and swampy, with low-lying, forested atoll islets, typically one to five m above mean sea level.
Based on results from the 2010 census, there were an estimated 102,843 persons in FSM (Population: Yap – 11.1%; Chuuk – 47.3%; Pohnpei – 35.2%; Kosrae – 6.4%) residing in 16,767 households (Households: Yap – 13.8%; Chuuk – 41.9%; Pohnpei – 37.5%; Kosrae – 6.8%) .
Current climate
Warming trends are evident in annual and half-year mean air temperatures for Pohnpei since 1951. The Yap mean air temperature trend shows little change for the same period.
Extreme temperatures such as Warm Days and Warm Nights have been increasing at Pohnpei consistent with global warming trends. Trends in minimum temperatures at Yap are not consistent with Pohnpei or global warming trends and may be due to unresolved in homogeneities in the record.
At Pohnpei, there has been a decreasing trend in May–October rainfall since 1950. This implies either a shift in the mean location of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) away from Pohnpei and/or a change in the intensity of rainfall associated with the ITCZ.
There has also been a decreasing trend in Very Wet Day rainfall at Pohnpei and Consecutive Dry Days at Yap since 1952. The remaining annual, half-year and extreme daily rainfall trends show little change at both sites.
Tropical cyclones (typhoons) affect the Federated States of Micronesia mainly between June and November. An average of 71 cyclones per decade developed within or crossed the Federated States of Micronesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between the 1977 and 2011 seasons. Tropical cyclones were most frequent in El Niño years (88 cyclones per decade) and least frequent in La Niña years (38 cyclones per decade). The neutral season average is 84 cyclones per decade. Thirty-seven of the 212 tropical cyclones (17%) between the 1981 and 2011 seasons became severe events (Category 3 or stronger) in the Federated States of Micronesia’s EEZ. Available data are not suitable for assessing long-term trends.
Wind-waves in the Federated States of Micronesia are dominated by north-easterly trade winds and westerly monsoon winds seasonally, and the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) inter-annually. There is little variation in wave climate between the eastern and western parts of the country; however Yap, in the west, has a more marked dependence on the El Niño–Southern Oscillation in June–September than Pohnpei, in the east. There is data that is available but are not suitable for assessing long-term trends. For more information see Section 4.3 of the FSM chapter p67) under Australian Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO (2014). Climate Variability, Extremes and Change in the Western Tropical Pacific: New Science and Updated Country Reports, Pacific-Australia Climate Change Science and Adaptation Planning Program Technical Report, Australian Bureau of Meteorology and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Melbourne, Australia.
For detailed information, go to: 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 FSM 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);
- Average annual rainfall is projected to increase (medium confidence), with more extreme rain events (high confidence);
- Drought frequency is projected to decrease (medium 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
- Wave height is projected to decrease in December–March (low confidence), and waves may be more directed from the south in the June–September (low confidence)
For detailed information, go to: Australian Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO, 2014.
Governance
The Strategic Development Plan (SDP) for FSM provides a road map for social and economic development for the 20 years 2004−2023. The SDP and the Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) both recognise the need for mitigation and adaptation measures to limit the impacts of climate change. The SDP has four main objectives:
- Stability and security — to maintain economic assistance at levels that support macroeconomic stability; achievement of this objective requires levels of funding close to prevailing levels, to avoid the large periodic step-downs in funding that were characteristic of the first fourteen-year Compact funding package.
- Improved enabling environment for economic growth — to be achieved through the FSM commitment to economic reform and the provision of an enabling environment to support open, outward-oriented and private sector-led development.
- Improved education and health status — use of the annual Compact grant to support the provision of basic services in education and health.
- Assured self-reliance and sustainability — to be achieved through establishment of a trust fund that would, after a period of time, replace the annually appropriated transfers from the USA.
FSM’s Vice President chairs a FSM Sustainable Development Council (SDC) that is a high level interdepartmental advisory body to the government on matters concerning the integration of the environment and development. Set up in 1995 formerly as the President’s Council on Environmental Management and Sustainable Development, the role is to advise and make recommendations to the President on matters affecting the environmental management and sustainable development of FSM. The objective of the Council is to improve the coordination of all sustainable development activities, including climate change and strengthen the council to better coordinate capacity assessments and flows of financial assistance into FSM.
FSM developed a Multi-State Hazard Mitigation Plan in 2005, and in 2009 a national Climate Change Policy was adopted. The country developed a combined Policy for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management in 2013. This is being implemented through State Joint Action Plans for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management.
The FSM Environmental Protection Act designates OEEM as the focal point for all Government climate change activities. As a result, it is the coordinating agency for all climate change projects and activities. Importantly, through the common institutional platform of OEEM, FSM is pursuing an integrated approach to climate change and DRM. OEEM provides technical assistance for the implementation of activities relating to climate change and DRM, and provides scientific, technical and policy oversight.
The National Climate Change Policy identifies the following sectors and, in some cases, the agency responsible for implementing climate change adaptation actions:
- Agriculture/forestry including food security: Department of Resources and Development;
- Disaster management;
- Education: Department of Education;
- Environment: Office of Environment and Emergency Management;
- Gender;
- Health: Department of Health and Social Affairs;
- Infrastructure: Department of Transportation, Communication and Infrastructure;
- Marine/Coastal Resources and Pelagic Fisheries: Department of Resources and Development (DRD) and National Oceanic and Resource Management Authority;
- Tourism;
- Transportation;
- Water resources;
- Weather service; and
- Office of the President
Over the years FSM has worked closely with SPREP’s Pacific Islands Climate Assistance Program, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), including the former Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Country Studies. This included developing appropriate National strategies for addressing climate change at various levels.
Environmental agencies, both Government and NGOs, are active in addressing climate change by undertaking initiatives to protect the health and natural resources as an effective way to adapt. Government environmental agencies, especially, execute environmental laws and regulations of the US obligated under Compact II and those initiated by the FSM at the National, State, and local levels (Namakin, 2008). As noted above, responsibility for environmental issues is shared between the FSM National Government and the four State Governments. The States take the lead role in ensuring that development avoids vulnerable areas and that critical natural systems are protected.
National Climate Change Priorities
In the 2004–2023 National Strategic Development Plan (SDP), Strategic Goal 1 in the Environment Section recognised the need to mainstream climate change into national planning, as well as in all economic development activities. In December 2009 the President of the FSM issued an Executive Order directing all relevant sectors to update existing plans and complete them in order to bolster responses towards mitigating and adapting to climate change. The sectors included agriculture (and food security), energy, water, infrastructure, transport, finance, health, and gender.
The Strategic Development Plan climate change priorities are:
- Raising awareness of climate change among the general population;
- Developing coastal management plans in all four States; and
- Developing ways to “climate proof” facilities and structure that support social and other services;
- Use ecosystem-based approaches where applicable;
- Encourage and strengthen the application of traditional knowledge on conservation practices and other relevant areas; and
- Develop and implement appropriate strategies to improve food production and other relevant sectors.
The specific priorities include:
- Developing a national climate education programme implemented through state, non-governmental organisations and community groups;
- Installing and maintaining climate-monitoring stations throughout FSM;
- Prepare maps of inundation risk and vulnerability and develop an inundation timeline that can inform state and national plans;
- Creating a national climate risk management plan and road map for managing climate risk, supported by individual state plans that emphasise community-based adaptation; nad
- Building food and water resiliency.
While each state has its own strategic development plan, Kosrae is the only State with a climate-responsive Strategic Development Plan (2013−2024). The SDP recognises that “the most prudent approach to addressing effects of naturally occurring events (climate change or disaster risks) long term would be to divert development and settlement along the coast to inland and higher grounds” (SDP 2013−2024, p. 29). The Environmental Results and Targets No. 6 states that by 2023 capacity is strengthened at all levels to climate change adaptation, and management and mitigation of risks of disasters enhanced so that communities are resilient to impacts of climate change and disaster risks. Resilience to climate change is also included within strategies for agriculture.
For more information, download the FSM Second National Communication Report.
FSM is making efforts to identify and implement adaptation options that reduce climate risks. FSM is presently preparing a Joint National Action Plan for climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk management (DRM). The identification of appropriate adaptation measures, however, remains at a very generic level.
FSM’s approach to successfully achieving climate change adaptation may be facilitated by three initiatives:
- establishing FSM as a National Implementing Entity in order to improve access to international funding, thereby increasing the flow of financial resources to the FSM and its States;
- forming international partnerships to aid adaptation efforts; and
- Continuing the development of internal policies and legislation focused on building resilient and sustainable communities, including ensuring that development efforts do not make FSM more at risk to climate change and making a developer liable for actions that reduce the resilience of a community and/or island.
FSM Second National Communication Report to the UNFCCC (2015) reports that a Fletcher and Richmond (2010) report have concluded that successfully achieving climate adaptation within the FSM may be facilitated by two steps:
- forming international partnerships to aid adaptation efforts; and
- Continuing the development of internal policies focused on building resilient and sustainable communities.
This may be facilitated with the following:
- Public education on climate risks in FSM including education of Government workers and other decision makers, of community members, and of landowners in particular;
- Community-based adaptation offers an opportunity to effectively institute adaptation measures with immediate benefit;
- Working within traditional land use policies to implement climate risk management as this will engender more domestic partnerships;
- Defining best management practices and aligning Government programs and policies with these practices;
- Strategic redevelopment of coastal communities vulnerable to flooding now and in coming decades;
- Conserving and promoting island and oceanic ecosystem services;
- Preserving and promoting traditional culture to facilitate adaptation strategies and community accord;
- Improving food and water security with a focus on domestic production as a core strategy in the National economy; and
- Master planning of communities focused on sustainability with enhanced Government services such as health, sanitation, water and power, emergency services, and others (Fletcher and Richmond, 2010)
Community based adaptation to climate change must involve all stakeholders in defining adaptation steps. Thus NGOs are considered valuable partners in managing climate risk in the FSM. (Refer to the Knowledge Management & Education component).
The following capacity building needs for assessment and managing climate risks in FSM, particularly with respect to adaptation:
At the systemic level:
- A policy framework should be in place by all different sectors to consider to deal with adaptation.
At the institutional level:
- All institutions should recognize and implement their roles, responsibility and mandates to related to adaptation; and
- Institutions should be specialized in dealing with the impacts of climate change on all sectors, including health, economy, and biodiversity.
At the individual level:
- training and education opportunities should be provided for individuals to improve their knowledge and skills on adaptation project design and implementation, and more in approaching vulnerability and adaptation assessments;
- awareness programs should be considered for heads of the village, decision makers, youth groups, church leaders to incorporate adaptation; and
- Individuals with expertise should be recognized and utilized to build on what they have and able to train others
For more information, go to: [FSM Second National Communication Report to UNFCCC link in the Portal. Cilla – this report is fairly new. You may like to search online on unfccc.int for the report.]
For information on adaptation projects in FSM, go to Projects Database.
The focus of the Nationwide Climate Change Policy (2009) is to “mitigate climate change especially at the international level, and adaptation at the national, state and community levels to reduce the FSM’s vulnerability to climate change adverse impacts.”[1] The vision and stated objective of the Nationwide Climate Change Policy (NCCP) is to work towards a global agreement on stabilization of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and non-GHG achieve the objective of the UNFCCC.
Mitigation Activities (as detailed in the NCCP, 2009):
- To advocate a post-Kyoto carbon dioxide emission reduction that will keep temperature rise to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2020 and beyond;
- To urgently address the global reduction and/or destruction of GHGs and non-GHG warmers through “fast action” strategies;
- To maintain and enhance FSM as a negative carbon country through effective management of the country’s natural sinks, bio-sequestration, promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency, and other appropriate means;
- To prioritise actions that address both mitigation and adaptation such as water development using renewable energy (e.g. solar water desalination) and other relevant actions;
- To encourage and strengthen the application of traditional knowledge on transportation practices and other areas.
[1] Nationwide Climate Change Policy (2009), p. 1.
Early childhood education has not been incorporated into the formal education system and Government has yet to formulate a related policy. Current early childhood education programs are operated with the support of a USA Federal grant. More vulnerable and disadvantaged children do not have preferred access to such education.
The quality of the FSM labour force, as measured by educational attainment, has not improved markedly between the last two censuses. Although the proportion of the population aged 25 and over with no education declined from 23% to 8% between 1999 and 2010, the proportion completing only elementary school has remained approximately constant, at around 30%. There has been an increase in the proportion of the 25 and over population completing a high school education (now 36%). Both the number and proportion of the 25 and over population with a Bachelor’s degree has risen to 12%. Unemployment as measured by the 1994 and 2010 censuses has increased in absolute numbers (from 4,216 to 6,130), but as a percentage of the labour force the level is unchanged at 16%. FSM needs to prepare and implement a postsecondary strategy to develop the skills needed to increase employment and support the economic development of the country. Some programs are being introduced by the College of Micronesia and linking with employment increases in Guam.
The FSM acknowledges the development of human resources is the key to sustainable development, including addressing climate-related risks. In the past FSM placed greater emphasis on capital economic development projects than on human resource development. Recently this trend has changed and programs to develop local resource capacity and institutional strengthening have been undertaken, including programs for gender equality and improvements for the nations women and children. Further improvements in all formal educational services are required to provide the training and skills required to sustainably develop the nation. International and local NGO communities operating within the FSM have contributed considerably to this, especially in the areas of environmental management and community empowerment.
Although considerable effort and advancements have been made, communication and coordination among National and State Government agencies with the private sector, NGO community, local municipalities and citizens need to be further improved, with special emphasis on awareness of environment and sustainable resource utilization and management. This is especially important for cumulative and long-term impacts. The further development of community-based services will greatly assist in this endeavor.
The Pacific Islands Climate Education Partnership (PCEP) is funded by the US National Science Foundation and serves the United States-affiliated Pacific Island region that includes FSM. Students and citizens within the region are helped to gain the knowledge and skills to advance understanding of climate change, mitigate the extent of climate change, and adapt to its impacts. As an example, the PCEP Climate Education Framework for Grades 3-5 guides the PCEP climate education curriculum in participating elementary schools between Grades 3 and 5. It describes the desirable levels of climate science knowledge and skills that the students should have by the end of the fifth grade. The Framework draws extensively from current US initiatives in science education and climate education, but is contextualized for the tropical Pacific islands
The MDG Education Goal for FSM is on track but care is needed to prevent regression. The root causes facing education, public awareness and training are:
- Prioritization of local conservation issues in school systems is low
- Limited environmental education materials for school
- Limited funds for education and awareness programs
- Limited promotional campaigns
- Lack of supplementary materials for community education outreach purposes
- Fire danger and water conservation awareness and coping methods to high islands and atoll residents is limited
- Lack of environment education programs in curriculum
The FSM has implemented programs on incorporating environmental conservation work concepts into educational programs. The 2009 Climate Change Policy Education goals are:
- To develop and disseminate education materials on climate change and its effects, and
- (ii) to develop and integrate climate change and its effect into intermediate, primary and secondary education curricula.
The public awareness goals are:
- To promote, facilitate and implement public awareness programmes on climate change and its effects at national, state and community levels by using relevant mediums, i.e. radio spots, newspaper, workshops, etc.,
- To provide public access to information on climate change and its effects; and
- To promote public participation in addressing climate change and its effect by facilitating feedback, debate, partnership in activities and linking with other environment related events (e.g. National Environment Day, World Clean Up Day, National Women’s Day)
One of the specific climate change policy priorities point to education. This is ‘developing a National climate education program implemented through State, non-governmental organizations and community groups’.
The Strategic Development Plan (SDP) for FSM provides a road map for social and economic development for the 20 years period 2004–2023.
The SDP has four main objectives:
Stability and security — to maintain economic assistance at levels that support macroeconomic stability; achievement of this objective requires levels of funding close to prevailing levels, to avoid the large periodic step-downs in funding that were characteristic of the first fourteen-year Compact funding package.
Improved enabling environment for economic growth — to be achieved through the FSM commitment to economic reform and the provision of an enabling environment to support open, outward-oriented and private sector-led development.
Improved education and health status — use of the annual Compact grant to support the provision of basic services in education and health.
Assured self-reliance and sustainability — to be achieved through establishment of a trust fund that would, after a period of time, replace the annually appropriated transfers from the USA.
Recently the President revamped the 1995 President’s Council on Environmental Management and Sustainable Development (or Sustainable Development Council) chaired by the Vice-President. The functions and purposes of the Sustainable Development Council are to advise and make recommendations to the President on matters affecting the environmental management and sustainable development of FSM. Through Presidential Order No. 14, an interdepartmental advisory council was established comprising representatives from the following ministries, departments, offices and authorities:
Agriculture
Department of Economic Affairs
Department of Finance and Administration
Department of Foreign Affairs
Department of Health, Education and Social Affairs
Department of Justice
Department of Transportation, Communication & Infrastructure
Fisheries
National Oceanic and Resource Management Authority
Office of Disaster Control
Tourism
The Nature Conservancy and the Micronesia Conservation Trust are also represented on the advisory council. The council’s reactivation is intended to improve the coordination of all sustainable development activities, including climate change. The intention is to strengthen the council to better coordinate capacity assessments and flows of financial assistance into FSM.
The FSM completed its First National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1999. Within this document, FSM noted that its main, short-term concern related to climate change as being the possibility of an increase in the frequency, duration and intensity of El Niño droughts, and the need to enhance capacity to address El Niño and La Niña events. Accelerated sea level rise was identified as a concern over the longerterm. Sectors of concern were noted as being coral reef ecosystems, coastal zones, waste management, upland forests, agriculture and water supply The adaptation needs of the FSM as identified in its Initial National Communication (FSM, 1999) were:
Reforestation of mangroves, upland forests and other forests in need of restoration.
Development of a community based coral-reef protection programme.
Public awareness programmes related to fire danger (particularly stemming from drought events) and climate change, supported through the training of government employees and development of sustainable development educational materials.
Research programmes that will document Micronesian traditional environmental knowledge, complete vulnerability and needs assessment, and design of an evaluation tool for new programmes.
Technology development and transfer, including: implementation of Micronesian traditional environmental management knowledge programmes; and networking with various NGO’s to develop a programme for identifying, transferring and modifying appropriate technologies for use in the implementation of sectoral climate change adaptation measures.
Interagency strengthening, including restructuring of the sustainable development council into four working groups: 1) management and protection of natural resources; 2) improvement of waste management and pollution control; 3) improvement ofenvironmental awareness and education; and 4) integration of environmental consideration in economic development.
| PARTNER NAME (with acronym) | DESCRIPTION OF PARTNER | LINK TO WEBSITE |
| ARD Inc. | Provider of consulting, engineering, and technical services worldwide, with expertise in science, research, engineering, construction, and information technology. | http://www.tetratech.com/ |
| Asian Development Bank (ADB) | ADB is a multilateral development finance institution dedicated to reducing poverty and improving living standards of people in Asia and the Pacific. It was established in 1966, currently comprising 67 members, mostly from the Asia-Pacific region. | http://www.adb.org/ |
| Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) | Provides the Australian and international communities with weather forecasts, warnings and observations for all areas of Australia, coastal waters areas, and high seas around Australia. | http://www.bom.gov.au/ |
| Australian Government Overseas Aid Program (AusAID) | Australia’s aid program is guided by five core strategic goals: saving lives, opportunities for all, sustainable economic development, effective governance, and humanitarian and disaster response. | http://www.ausaid.gov.au/ |
| Conservation International | Comprised of scientists, field staff and policy experts who: measure the contribution of healthy ecosystems to human well-being; assess the implications of development decisions; put cutting-edge, rigorously tested information in the hands of decision-makers and the public; and demonstrate through field models how economic opportunity and the stewardship of natural resources can leverage change at an international scale. | http://www.conservation.org/ |
| Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education – Australia | Helps shape Australia’s future economy through skills, learning, discovery and innovation. | http://www.climatechange.gov.au/ |
| Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) | German international aid organisation, comprised of three implementing organisations for technical cooperation. | http://www.giz.de/en/ |
| Global Environment Facility (GEF) | The GEF unites 183 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. Today the GEF is the largest public funder of projects to improve the global environment. An independently operating financial organization, the GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. | http://www.thegef.org/ |
| International Organization for Migration (IOM) | Promoting humane and orderly policies in the movement of persons across borders. Supports migrant health protections, assisted returns, counter-trafficking, and technical cooperation in migration. | http://www.iom.int/ |
| Meteorological Service of New Zealand (MetService) | New Zealand's national meteorological service, MetService produces and issues forecasts and official weather warnings on behalf of New Zealand's Ministry of Transport and is certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand. | http://www.metservice.com/ |
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) | A New Zealand Crown Research Institute whose mission is to conduct leading environmental science to enable the sustainable management of natural resources for New Zealand and the planet. | http://www.niwa.co.nz/ |
| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) | NOAA is a United States federal agency focused on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere. | http://www.noaa.gov/ |
| Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) | The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Center administers scientific research and monitoring programs that support the domestic and international conservation and management of living marine resources. | http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/ |
| Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) | SPC is an international organisation that works in public health, geoscience, agriculture, forestry, water resources, disaster management, fisheries, education (community, TVET, quality and standards for all school levels), statistics, transport, energy, ICT, media, human rights, gender, youth and culture to help Pacific Island people achieve sustainable development. SPC’s members are the 22 Pacific Island countries and territories that are the beneficiaries of its services, along with four of the original founding countries. | http://www.spc.int/ |
| Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) | Promotes cooperation in the South Pacific region, protects and improves the South Pacific environment and to ensure sustainable development for present and future generations. | http://www.sprep.org/ |
| The Nature Conservancy (TNC) | A leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. | http://www.nature.org/ |
| United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. | http://www.undp.org |
| United Nations Institute for Training and Research Climate Change Capacity Development (UNITAR - C3D+) | Seeks to improve the capacity of research and training institutions in developing countries to support climate change adaptation and mitigation action. | http://www.c3d-unitar.org/ |
| United States Agency for International Development (USAID) | USAID works in over 100 countries to: Promote broadly shared economic prosperity; Strengthen democracy and good governance; Protect human rights; Improve global health; Advance food security and agriculture; Improve environmental sustainability; Further education; Help societies prevent and recover from conflicts; and Provide humanitarian assistance in the wake of natural and man-made disasters. | http://www.usaid.gov/ |
| WestEd | A non-profit research, development, and service agency that works with education and other communities to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning for children, youth, and adults. | http://www.wested.org/ |
| World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) | A specialised agency of the United Nations. Its purpose is to facilitate international cooperation in the establishment of networks of stations for making Meteorological, hydrological and other observations; and to promote the rapid exchange of meteorological information, the standardisation of meteorological observations and the uniform publication of observations and statistics. | http://www.wmo.int |
For additional information, the websites below may be useful:
- Adaptation Learning Mechanism
- Asia Pacific Adaptation Network
- Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre
- Pacific Climate Change Portal -> Project Database (go to "Projects" tab)
- UNDP’s Adaptation Learning Mechanism
he implementation of current and proposed adaptation actions in FSM are likely to be challenging due to: the remoteness of the country and its population; the absence of abundant resources; data gaps; traditional land use, decision-making and tenure systems; and the absence of sufficient planning and funding (Fletcher and Richmond, 2010).[1]
Traditional land use and tenure, unstable slopes among the high islands, complexities in groundwater availability, alternative plans for using watershed lands by owners and various groups, low motivation and appreciation of climate risk, data gaps, and lack of adequate financing — all combine to signal that managing climate risk will be challenging. The situation could lead to displaced communities lacking important economic fundamentals and resulting in low social standing. Moving and upgrading basic infrastructure will be expensive. There is little public land, and landownership is a complex and traditional foundation of political power in FSM.[2]
Climate change events, chronic problems, data gaps, lack of master planning, and entrenched land uses decrease the sustainability of FSM communities in the face of changing climate conditions. Challenges include:
- vulnerability to natural hazards and difficulty recovering from natural hazards;
- culture as traditional practice is replaced by imported resources;
- increased vulnerability to global warming;
- growing pressures on national and state resources; and
- problem solving by crisis management.[3]
[1] Cited in Dohan, op. cit. p. 53.
[2] Global Climate Change Alliance: Pacific Small Islands States (GCCA: PSIS) project, Federated States of Micronesia Climate Change Profile, 30 June 2012, p. 15.
[3] Global Climate Change Alliance: Pacific Small Islands States (GCCA: PSIS) project, Federated States of Micronesia Climate Change Profile, 30 June 2012, p. 15.
List of references used to develop country profile:
- Australian Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO (2014). Climate Variability, Extremes and Change in the Western Tropical Pacific: New Science and Updated Country Reports. Pacific-Australia Climate Change Science and Adaptation Planning Program Technical Report, Australian Bureau of Meteorology and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Melbourne, Australia
- Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations, July 2007.
- FSM INDC
- Forum Secretariat website
- Government of FSM, 2015. Second National Communication Report to the UNFCCC.
- Pacific Disaster Net