Climate Change Adaptation Programme for the Pacific (CLIMAP)
- Cook Islands,
- Federated States of Micronesia (FSM),
- Other Pacific Developing Member Countries,
- Pacific
ENTRY DATE: 09.03.2012 | LAST UPDATE: 09.03.2012
SCALE:
- Sub-regional Level
TARGET AREA:
- Rural
BEST PRACTICE IN:
- Capacity Building
- Research and Development
KEY SECTOR:
- Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
FUNDING AMOUNT:
- USD 500,001 - USD 1,000,000
Description of Intervention
ADB’s Climate Change Adaptation Programme for the Pacific (CLIMAP) assists Pacific developing member countries to enhance their adaptive capacities and resilience to climate change and climate variability, including extreme events. It also assists these countries to prevent and address the adverse effects of global climate change, particularly sea level rise and changing climate variability in coastal and marine areas. This is achieved through risk assessment, adaptation planning, and policy development, by climate proofing infrastructure, and through community and other development initiatives. This assistance involves preparation/design of adaptation measures at the project level as well as capacity building, including institutional strengthening and human resources development for adaptation.
Problems to be Addressed
This risk-based climate proofing approach has been shown to be particularly relevant to small Pacific Island States and communities that are particularly vulnerable to the sea level rise and enhanced storm frequency and severity that are expected from climate change. Extreme climate events that are currently rare are projected to become relatively common as a result of climate change.
The climate proofing approach has shown that it is possible to avoid most of the damage caused by climate change to infrastructure projects in a cost-effective manner if "climate proofing" is undertaken at the project design stage. If climate change adaptation is mainstreamed in an integrated way from the beginning of the project development cycle, huge risk reductions and their likely costs can clearly be achieved at a low additional cost. This approach is superior to ignoring the predictable effects of climate change and then incurring huge costs to rebuild the infrastructure.
The overall goal of a risk-based approach to climate change adaptation is to manage both the current and future risks associated with the full spectrum of atmospheric and oceanic hazards. The case studies were chosen to highlight the range of levels at which adaptation takes place, and the linkages between them. The levels are: 1. Project 2. Regulation and compliance 3. Short- and mid-term policy making and planning at Sub-National level 4. National strategic development planning The studies demonstrated the importance of mainstreaming adaptation, including strengthening the enabling environment for adaptation, in order to increase the likelihood of successful adaptation at project and community levels.
Aims
The project focused on demonstrating and mainstreaming climate adaptation into development and planning in Pacific Developing Member Countries (PDMCs) and into ADB Pacific Department operations, on a pilot basis. The goal of the project is to ensure that PDMCs of the Asian Development Bank adapt to climate change and variability (CCV). The ultimate aim of the case studies was to show why and demonstrate how reducing climate-related risks is an integral part of sustainable development.
Objectives
The specific objectives were
• To produce transferable and replicable methods and tools that support adaptation assessment and mainstreaming through risk reduction;
• To demonstrate, in the context of the Pacific Islands Region, how adaptation through risk reduction will enhance the sustainability of national development programmes and projects; and
• To assist the Cook Islands and FSM to mainstream adaptation in national development planning and decision making for their sustainable development. Another objective is to mainstream climate change adaptation through integrated risk reduction (CCAIRR).
How it fits into the EbA concept
Climate-proofing national strategic development plans enhances the enabling environment for adaptation, establishes the requirement for climate-proofing sector, Sub-National (e.g. state, island and community) development plans as well as individual development projects (i.e. mainstreaming adaptation) and helps to ensure that actions to reduce climate-related risks are an integral part of all sustainable development initiatives.