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Republic of Vanuatu’s First Biennial Transparency Report (FBTR)
Under the Vanuatu’s First Biennial Transparency Report to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Submitted by: Ministry of Climate Change, Republic of Vanuatu
Executive summary
This inaugural Biennial Transparency Report for Vanuatu serves as a comprehensive overview of the nation’s efforts to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement. It encompasses critical aspects of Vanuatu’s national circumstances, greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, progress tracking for nationally determined contributions (NDCs), climate change impacts and adaptation strategies, as well as financial and technological support needs and responses related to climate change. Additionally, the report addresses initiatives aimed at averting, minimizing, and addressing loss and damage associated with climate change impacts.
I. National Circumstances and Institutional Arrangements
Vanuatu’s unique geographical and socio-economic context is characterized by its status as a small island developing state (SIDS), facing significant vulnerabilities due to climate change. This section outlines the institutional frameworks in place to facilitate climate governance, including coordination mechanisms among government agencies, civil society, and local communities. The report emphasizes Vanuatu's commitment to integrating climate action into national development plans, promoting resilience, and ensuring sustainable development.
II. National Greenhouse Gas Inventory
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Vanuatu is unique among the Paris Agreement parties that have produced Low Emissions Development Strategies (LEDS) and Long-Term Strategies (LTS). Vanuatu is already net negative for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Vanuatu’s large forest area removes more than 10 times the GHG emissions generated from human activity.
Yet, Vanuatu’s own pathway of reducing emissions demonstrates the commitment it seeks at a global level to address climate change. The guiding vision for the LEDS is the following: Reduce emissions across all sectors in a way that supports resilient, sustainable, and equitable growth for its people.
The Vanuatu LEDS provides sector by sector review of alignment with the vision for reduced emissions mitigation, resilience, and adaptation. It assists mainstreaming of emissions mitigation and adaptation in key sectors: energy, transport, waste management, livestock, forestry and agriculture, and water and health. It brings new insights, attention, and engagement with strategic policy challenges and in doing so, identifies new and complementary actions to those actions described in short- and medium-term strategies.
Vanuatu’s energy sector has ambitious mitigation targets to 2030, as described in the National Energy Road Map (NERM) and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). For the most part, these strategies and targets align with the vision of the LEDS to reduce emissions through to 2050. Additional actions are needed to meet the LEDS vision, including enhancing existing programmes to meet the electricity demand outside of grid concession areas, promoting a clean cooking transition, scaling up coconut oil production and improving climate resilience and adaptation planning in the energy sector.
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The project proposes to support the institutionalization of sustainable transport and electric transport in Vanuatu by i) establishing a coordination body consisting of public and private stakeholders; ii) support the preparation of a gender-responsive national sustainable land transport policy; iii) preparation of a E-Mobility Roadmap including the definition of an incentive scheme, charging network development plan and an innovative end-of-life vehicle strategy; iv) establish statistical systems for the collection, processing, and analysis of key data points for decision-making; and v) capacity building of key stakeholders.
To overcome the challenges and barriers of infrastructure the following actions support the initial uptake of electric vehicles in Vanuatu: i) Feasibility study on the introduction of EVs in a controlled pilot project in Vanuatu to assess applicable technical specification and economic, social and environmental benefits; ii) the deployment of EVs as part of the government vehicle fleet with the integration of Renewable Energy (RE) for vehicle charging within a controlled environment; and iii) technical training for the monitoring, operation and safety of EVs.
C) In coordination with the work on addressing infrastructure and governance challenges, the following will work will be integrated throughout the project: i) preparation of knowledge-sharing material for different target groups; ii) seminars, workshops and hands-on outreach events on sustainable mobility and EVs
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The Project Profile for the - "Support to the Acceleration of Sustainable Land Transport and the Introduction of Electric Mobility in Vanuatu"
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EXTREME HEAT IMPACTS ON ELECTRICITY DEMAND IN EFATE
This case study examines the impact of temperature on electricity demand in Efate. Guidance around conducting this type of step-by-step assessment is provided in more detail on the Van-KIRAP web portal, along with other case studies (called infobytes), factsheets, visualisation tools and technical resources. This case study can be used as an example for undertaking similar climate hazard-based impact assessments.
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By incorporating climate data and information to improve the resilience of road infrastructure, SPREP is assisting Vanuatu through the Climate Information Services for Resilient Development Planning in Vanuatu (VanKIRAP) project in reviewing and updating the current version of the Vanuatu Rural Road Design Guide. The Gap Analysis Report presents findings from a global literature analysis and benchmarking effort in regard to the identification of climate resilience challenges and gaps in the current edition of the Vanuatu road design guidance. It also identifies potential for improvement.
The gap analysis draws upon a series of input documents to develop a log of gaps, issues, and opportunities that need to be addressed in the new design guidance to be developed by the VanKIRAP project. The report also draws upon the issues, gaps, and opportunities identified through stakeholder consultations with national stakeholders within the Infrastructure sector, including the Public Works Department, Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department, and others. Funding for the review and development of the new Vanuatu Road Design Guide is provided by the Green Climate Fund.
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The project considers the current Vanuatu’s Off-Grid RE and EE Promotion Program as the main baseline effort towards achieving the country’s NERM targets. This program includes the installation of RE-based (mainly hydro, and solar) power generation and distribution systems, as well as some Energy Efficiency interventions. This project aims to fill in critical gaps in Vanuatu’s baseline program.
Policy and planning: The project will identify important policy and planning gaps and institutionalize existing policies and plans in place (NERM-IP Plan and NERM) in the baseline program that it will fill, such as guidelines, standards, and incentive policies.
Institutional: The project will focus and represent relatively innovative incremental aspects. System management will be a critical feature in the sustainability of rural RE systems and their replication and thus an instrumental contribution towards meeting NERM targets.
Capacity development: While Vanuatu has substantial baseline program efforts to install RE systems in off-grid areas, training is very limited and generally consists of one-time training upon installation of systems. For larger-scale systems, capturing wind energy, equipment sourcing, and installation capacity is absent.
Green transport: The project will aim to set example of green transport mechanism by introducing electric vehicles
Financing for energy efficiency: The focus will be given to educating the commercial private sector to set up a loan or equity financing mechanism for Energy Efficiency Equipment and productive uses in rural areas.
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The Secretariat of the Pacific Environment Programme (SPREP) is implementing the Climate Information Services for Resilient Development in Vanuatu (CISRD), or Vanuatu Klaemet Infomesen blong redy, adapt mo protekt (Van-KIRAP) Project. As the first part of this project, Tonkin & Taylor International Ltd (T+TI) has been engaged to provide technical expertise on the Van KIRAP Project and the Department of Water Resources to review and update existing flood mitigation guidelines for the Sarakata catchment in Espiritu Santo Island, and to support the development of flood early warning systems in Sarakata.
This report provides a review of the existing Flood Mitigation Guidelines for Sarakata, Pepsi and Solwei Areas (2011) including the evaluation and identification of gaps in terms of early warning systems and long-term climate change considerations. The review has identified the gaps across governance, institutional arrangements, observations, risk knowledge, warning dissemination, and preparedness and response. The following recommendations are provided to address the identified gaps and to inform the development of updated flood mitigation guidelines:
• Strengthened governance and institutional arrangements, relating to:
− Strengthened policies and institutional frameworks at the provincial level including clear roles and responsibilities.
− Clear standard operating procedures for flood early warning system management. − Development of forums to enable coordination and partnerships.
− Update and finalise the Sarakata Flood Management Plan, including establishment of a monitoring and evaluation plan to ensure effective and coordinated governance of flood disaster risk reduction and to foster sustainable development.
• Strengthened observation, monitoring, analysis, and forecasting, relating to:
− Additional observational equipment and supporting services and capacity.
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The Women’s Resilience to Disasters (WRD) programme is fully funded by the Government of Australia and proposes a comprehensive package to strengthen the resilience of women and girls with the goal of ensuring that the lives and livelihoods of women and girls are resilient to disasters and threats, contributing to sustainable, secure, and thriving communities.
The WRD programme will initially be implemented in Kiribati, Vanuatu, and Fiji. Programme implementation will be driven at country level and supported by regional and global components.
The country components will provide targeted action to strengthen women’s resilience and build gender-responsive systems, advancing different elements of the WRD depending on the national context, policy priorities, existing initiatives, needs, and capacities.
At the regional level, the focus will be on knowledge management, advocacy, and gender and disability support for regional mechanisms, movements, and coalitions, including the Pacific Resilience Partnership.
The global component will advance gender-responsiveness in global DRR and climate processes, provide technical support, ensure global knowledge sharing and advocacy on women’s leadership for disaster resilience, and provide a platform for sharing good practice for gender-responsive resilience and voices from the Pacific.
The expected Outcomes for WRD are two-fold:1) Prevention, preparedness, and recovery policy frameworks, systems, processes, and tools are gender-responsive, and implemented as a result of local women’s and girls’ advocacy; and2) Women and girls have voice and agency to withstand multiple hazards, recover from disasters, and increase their resilience to future disasters and threats.
At the country level, the WRD Programme will work with government ministries, UN agencies and regional partners, and CSOs including women’s organisations.
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The Project Profile Form - Women’s Resilience to Disaster’s Programme (WRD)-Vanuatu
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Flagship initiatives are the first, best or most promising examples of successful ecosystem restoration that a country or region would like to be globally known for. The main role of Flagships is to provide inspiration to other countries and regions for scaling up successful restoration efforts, and to attract global attention and investments. Selected Flagships will act as a basis for joint learning across the world. Up to 10 Flagships selected in the first round will be launched in 2022, likely in conjunction with the UN General Assembly in September. All official Flagships of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration will feature prominently in the UN Decade's publications, campaigns, outreach, advocacy and education efforts going forward, and will be listed in the UN Secretary-General's Report to the General Assembly (UNGA) at its 81st session.
Brief description of project, key activities and outputs, how will it be implemented?]
The SIDS Ecosystem Restoration Flagship (SIDS Flagship) concept note was submitted to and approved by the UN Decade Executive Board on December 17th 2021. In a nutshell, this Flagship will put marine and coastal ecosystems at the heart of economic policy and decision-making in the era of COVID 19. This SIDS-led initiative will also put a face to marine and coastal ecosystem restoration with SIDS leading by example and inspiring pride.
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Definition of SubdivisionFor the purpose of this policy, a subdivision is defined as the division of an existing registered lease or registration of a new lease into two (2) or more lots by way of subleases, derivative leases or community titles. Such developments are still subject to the written consent of the Director of Land Surveys per the provisions of Section 12(a) of the Land Leases Act (CAP 163).
Purpose of this policyA To provide a clear purpose and guidelines by which subdivisions may be created and to establish the parameters of the administrative processes to achieve the purpose.B To ensure that the creation of subdivisions results in environmentally and socially sustainable development and an improved quality of life for residents with suitable standards of amenity, access, affordability, disaster risk reduction and health and safety.C To provide equity for all landowners and residents including present and future generations by taking into consideration cultural, economic, and environmental values attached to the land being subdivided.Environmentally & socially sustainableImproved quality of lifeSuitable standards of amenity & access Affordability Disaster riskreductionHealth & SafetyFigure 1: Outcomes of a sound Subdivision Policy.3 General principlesA This Policy is subject to and complements all existing laws of the country. Particular laws whichhave relevance are:i. Land
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A new blue green economic opportunity for North Efate is now ready for development in the Forari Bay area. The Forari Bay Development Company’s vision to create a multi-purpose North Efate development to serve as a second major peri-urban hub for Efate.
Key Activities:
The development will provide:
New domestic green port for Efate to serve as main inter-island shipping hub (powered by Renewable Energy)
New domestic green fleet (renewable energy powered domestic fleet of 12 ships)
New green slipway to service full domestic fleet and international vessels needing repair and maintenance while in Vanuatu waters (powered by Renewable Energy)
Trade centre for productive sector products from Provinces (raw and value-added) for domestic and international trade
Manufacturing centre for renewable energy products (e-vehicles, renewable energy products)
Agriculture/Horticulture high production high demand products
Outputs:
(Readiness) Complete Master Plan, Government Approvals,Sites Establisment. (USD 1m)
A totally green port, infrastructure system and transport and regional waste management facility. (USD 30.0m)
Slipway to improve the safety of vessels and passengers within Vanuatu waters. (USD 3.2m)
Food and niche Vanuatu horticulture products milled,processed and exported (USD 4.2m)
A vibrant climate resilient trading green port (USD 35.4m)
A sustainable fishery (USD 10.0m)
Total overall Project Costs Estimated to be USD 250 million
Implementation:
Construction Process Generally
Managed by Forari Bay Development Company appointed Project Manager, Quantity Surveyor, Financial Controller and Programme Manager with assistance from Specialist Design Consultants as required.
Preliminary Concept
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The proposed project will provide solar photovoltaic-based electricity to around 4,860 rural households (12% of total rural households) in Vanuatu through solar mini-grid and solar home systems leveraging from the National Green Energy Fund (NGEF) investment program supported by the Government of Vanuatu (GoV), Solar for Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) piloted through the Refrigeration for Vanuatu Rural Tourism Operators Project (SRVRTOP), and solar systems for off-grid primary schools.
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Project Profile Form - Leveraging the National Green Energy Fund to Achieve Rural Electrification in Vanuatu
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Oxfam International is a world-wide development organisation that mobilises the power of people against poverty. In the Pacific, we work with our partners to ensure that Pacific Islander women and men (specifically those that are poor, marginalised or excluded) are leading and shaping their development and where their voices are heard and acted on by those in power. In the Pacific, Oxfam’s regional office is based in Suva, Fiji, where our Fiji country office and our base for remote cluster management of the Polynesia/Micronesia country office are also located. We also have offices in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
The Pacific Islands Climate Change Collaboration, Influencing and Learning (PACCCIL) project is a four year (2018 – 2021) project funded for the first two years by Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP). It aims at strengthening the influencing capacity of civil society actors and networks to ensure that action on climate change in the Pacific region is more effective, inclusive and collaborative. The project will work with key climate change action networks in Vanuatu and at the regional level, as well as facilitate the organising and collective action of civil society actors in Solomon Islands and the Polynesia and Micronesia sub-regions against climate change.
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The different messages displayed on posters about the project activities and how it benefited the people in a rural community in Vanuatu especially in Lelepa Island in the Shefa Province as the pilot site.
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The wonderful Lelepa island, part of the Roi Mata’s Domain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is interesting not only in its culturally important role, but also in its development potential. As part of the Prove of Concept project (POC), the project team was able to carry out an initial infrastructure test with its innovative swarm technology and equip five buildings on the island with solar power based on a Flex-Grid1 meter based mini-grid.The project has shown that thanks to the modular and simple technology, a solar power project can be carried out in the shortest time and with minimal preparation. In the specific case of the POC, the practical work consisted of a one-day site visit and a two-day installation phase. After the installation, conventional alternating current was immediately available to the residents and has since been used actively by the local population.The technology was very well received by the local population. The simplicity (comparable to a diesel generator) and flexibility were highlighted. The pay-as-you-go approach was also welcomed and the tax of 450 VT per month for a basic service was considered reasonable.We would recommend continuing the project by electrifying the entire island as proposed in this study. However, after the very positive result of the POC, we would also recommend examining the application possibilities for further projects, since the application possibilities go much further than could be tested in the area of the prove of concept and could substantially stimulate the economic potential of other villages.
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The LECB Programme phase II aims to assist Vanuatu to implement Output 1 under the programme: Policies, institutional frameworks and national MRV systems strengthened and harmonized to mainstream national mitigation policies and targets in the context of NDCs. This output is expected to support the review and/or formulation of roadmap for NDC implementation including new mitigation actions beyond current NDC commitment periods. The key activity results includes: designing of NDC implementation plans and institutional frameworks; designing and implementation of MRV systems to support implementation and evaluation of NDCs and designing and strengthening the NAMAs in the context of NDC implementation through robust frameworks for NDC implementation plans and future rounds of NDCs.
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Technical Need Assessment (TNA) for Vanuatu is funded by the UNDP partering with the GIZ. The objective of the TNA is to firstly identified priority sectors in the mitigation processes. The NAB has approved of the energy and waste to be considered for this TNA.
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