The global cost of disasters is growing: The economic burden of disasters is intensifying. While the direct costs of disasters averaged $70–80 billion a year between 1970 and 2000, between 2001 and 2020 these annual costs grew significantly to $180–200 billion. But the real cost is far higher. Disaster costs …
Australia and New Zealand should allow open migration for citizens of Pacific nations threatened by climate change, to boost struggling island economies and prevent a later mass forced migration, a paper from the World Bank argues. The policy paper, Pacific Possible, suggests as one climate change adaptation measure, open access …
A new study, supported by the Minamata Convention’s Interim Secretariat hosted by UN Environment, reveals that women of childbearing age living in four Pacific Island countries have elevated levels of mercury in their bodies. Mercury monitoring in women of childbearing age in the Asia and the Pacific Region, jointly conducted …
The “Pacific Islands Meteorological Services in Action” Compendium which was compiled by SPREP-FINPAC Project in partnership with World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Climate and Oceans Support Programme for the Pacific (COSPPac) and Environment and Climate Change Canada is a result of a first “writeshop” for climate services in the Pacific. This …
This paper presents an analysis of climate finance flows to Pacific Island states in 2010–2014, collectively and by country, as well as more recent data on flows from multilateral climate funds. The Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the Pacific face serious threats from climate change and will need significant …
Renewable energy is a crucial step toward sustainable development in Pacific island countries (PICs). Asia has grown rapidly in the past 2 decades and accounts for an increasing share of global investment, production, and trade. PICs have benefited from that growth and strengthened their economic links with Asia while loosening …
The Pacific Island Climate Outlook Forum (PICOF) has issued its Regional climate outlook and tropical cyclone outlook for 2016/2017. The forum, which took place on 17th and 18th of October in Nadi, Fiji, had a specific focus on the impacts of the 2015/16 El Niño. Highlights of the outlook were: …
This report demonstrates how taking steps now to ensure that buildings and construction activities in the Pacific can better withstand climate change-related events will reduce impacts in future years. It is intended for policymakers who are considering incorporating climate adaptation activities into infrastructure development. The publication suggests that policy makers …
This research highlights the underlying resilience of Pacific agriculture to climate change, particularly for many of the region’s staple food crops. It identifies a range of potential response measures that could be implemented to significantly reduce exposure to climate-related risks and enable the Pacific Community to better cope with emerging …
Climate change in Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) is projected to have significant impacts, including rising sea-levels, more violent tropical cyclones and droughts. Fish stocks in the tropical regions of the Pacific are expected to be directly affected by any changes that may occur in the ocean’s ecosystem. The …
A new World Bank report recommends that Pacific Island countries supporting or considering deep sea mining activities proceed with a high degree of caution to avoid irreversible damage to the ecosystem, and ensure that appropriate social and environmental safeguards are in place as part of strong governance arrangements for this …
The fourth publication in the USAID Adapt Asia-Pacific Adaptation Finance Knowledge Series presents the methodology used in the Pacific Cost-Benefit Analysis Initiative (P-CBA) training workshops, accompanied by examples from the trainings of how the methodology has been employed. It is shared as a tool to help countries undertake similar analyses.
This publication reports on the current drought moving through the Pacific Islands, brought by one of the strongest El Niño events since record. It describes regional environmental and sociopolitical impacts of El Niño mainly in freshwater supply, food supply and human health. It also summarizes some of the strategies and …
As more and more families migrate from rural areas to Pacific capital cities, water, sanitation and health challenges in rapidly growing informal settlements in key Pacific capital cities are in urgent need of response, according to a new World Bank report. Released to coincide with World Toilet Day 2015, Unsettled: …
Papua New Guinea’s prime minister Peter O’Neill has urged Australia to be an advocate for the Pacific in pushing for a strong agreement at this month’s worldwide climate change talks in Paris. The governments of more than 190 nations will meet at COP21 in the French capital, beginning on 30 …
This statement was produced at the first Pacific Island Climate Outlook Forum (PICOF) held on the 12th to the 16th of October at the University of the South Pacific. The forum had a specific focus on the current El Niño, regional and national climate outlooks and impacts on the water …
This report assesses the impact of climate change on agriculture and fisheries in three Pacific Island countries, including the impacts on agricultural production, economic returns for major crops, and food security. Alternative adaption policies are examined in order to provide policy options that reduce the impact of climate change on …
The UN has urged Pacific island nations to prepare now for a looming El Nino emergency which could affect more than 4 million people, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here Tuesday. The UN resident coordinator in Fiji, Osnat Lubrani, said that there are suggestions that this El Nino could …
This report outlines the need for increased political action from the goverments of Australia and New Zealand ahead of the critical climate change negotiations in Paris, and in the wake of the series of severe climate-related disasters in the Pacific. It calls for the two countries to join with Pacific …
Natural disasters and climate change are interrelated macro-critical issues affecting all Pacific small states to varying degrees. In addition to their devastating human costs, these events damage growth prospects and worsen countries’ fiscal positions. This is the first cross-country IMF study assessing the impact of natural disasters on growth in …
