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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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This UNDP-supported, GEF-LDCF funded project, "Vanuatu Coastal Adaptation Project (VCAP)", is working to build resilience through improved infrastructure, sustained livelihoods, and increased food production.
These efforts (with National Government as Key Collaborators) aim to improve the quality of life in targeted vulnerable areasor communities in the coastal zone of the island nation.
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Vanuatu is among the most vulnerable countries on earth to the increasing impacts of climate change, including climate-related natural disasters and the effects of slow-onset events such as sea-level rise and ocean acidification.
As the effects of global warming manifest and the hazards of climate change arise at accelerating rates, there is a need to shift the paradigm towards the standardised and mainstreamed use of science-based climate information, at multiple timescales, to support resilient development pathways.
The proposed project will support this paradigm shift through the strengthening and application of Climate Information Services (CIS) in five targeted development sectors: tourism; agriculture; infrastructure; water and fisheries.
More specifically, the project will build the technical capacity in Vanuatu to harness and manage climate data; develop and deliver practical CIS tools and resources; support enhanced coordination and dissemination of tailored information; enhance CIS information and technology infrastructure; and support the application of relevant CIS through real-time development processes, for more resilient outcomes.
The project has a focus on addressing information gaps and priority needs of target beneficiaries at national, provincial and local community levels across the five priority sectors.
The project will deliver enhanced:
capacity and capability of national development agents, to understand, access and apply CIS
CIS communications, knowledge products, tools, and resources for practical application to development processes.
reliability, functionality, utility and timeliness of underlying CIS delivery systems and data collection infrastructure.
scientific data, information and knowledge of past, present and future climate to facilitate innovated and resilient development.
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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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CURRENT AND FUTURE INFLUENCE OF TROPICAL CYCLONES ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN VANUATU
This case study describes tropical cyclone impacts on agricultural production in Vanuatu, using a step-by-step approach. Guidance around conducting this type of step-by-step assessment is provided in more detail on the Van-KIRAP web portal, along with other climate impact related case studies (also termed 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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This Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) has been developed to support thedesign of the proposed Green Climate Fund (GCF) programme: LoCAL: Supporting ResilientIsland Communities in Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu through the Local ClimateAdaptive Living (LoCAL) Mechanism.
Climate change magnifies socio-economic development challenges and compounds the negativeimpacts of unsustainable resource management practices in the Pacific Small Island DevelopingStates (SIDS) of Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu. These SIDS are particularlyvulnerable to climate change because of their high exposure to climate hazards such as sea levelrise, tropical storms, coastal inundation and extreme weather events. While local government andcommunities are uniquely placed to address these challenges, local adaptive capacity is constrainedby limited technical capacity and financial resources. However, local governments are also bestplaced to identify, prioritise and address climate change risks owing to their knowledge of localcontexts and needs.
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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 Paris Agreement was adopted by consensus on 12 December 2015, during the 21st session of Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and entered into force on 4 November 2016. This landmark agreement aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change and requires all Parties to establish robust measuring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems and to communicate their efforts to UNFCCC. In this context, on 22-Jul-21, GEF approved a project identification form (PIF) and project preparation grant (PPG) submitted by FAO titled ‘Strengthening capacity in the Energy, Agriculture, Forestry, and other Land-use Sectors for Enhanced Transparency in the Implementation and Monitoring of Vanuatu’s Nationally Determined Contribution’.
The project aims to develop Vanuatu’s institutional and human capacities for complying with Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) reporting requirements of the Paris Agreement, and implementation and monitoring of Vanuatu’s Nationally Determined Contribution focusing on Energy, Agriculture, Forestry and other Land-use Sectors. With the MOCC Department of Environment Protection and Conservation (DEPC) of Vanuatu & Department of Climate Change as executing partner, and CBIT as resource partner, the GEF-7 has entrusted FAO for the preparation and implementation of the project.
The project will be executed under the following components and outcomes:
Project Component 1: Strengthening Vanuatu’s institutional arrangements for a robust MRV system for NDC climate change mitigation and adaptation actions.
Outcomes of Project Component 1:
1.1 NDC transparency system in place following the UNFCCC modalities, procedures, and guidelines.
Project
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.
Project
The Project Profile Form - Women’s Resilience to Disaster’s Programme (WRD)-Vanuatu
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IUCN Marine & Coastal Biodiversity in Pacific Islands Countries & Atolls Project (MACBIO) is supporting the Vanuatu Government achieve sustainable management of ecosystems and marine resources in country. Natural resources in marine and coastal areas are of high importance for Vanuatu and sustain the livelihoods of coastal communities. However, the need to use marine resources sustainably is not well reflected in national planning processes, due in part to insufficient information regarding their economic value and lack of concerted marine spatial planning.
MACBIO project 2013-2018 aims to help Vanuatu to meet their commitments under the CBD Strategic Plan 2011-2020 and the relevant Aichi targets, including the Programme of Work on Protected Areas (POWPA) and the Programme of Work on Island Biodiversity (POWIB) Specifically, the project aims to enhance ecosystem-based management and support more effectively managed marine resources which should lead to more resilient coastal and marine economies, more sustainable use of marine biodiversity, and will contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation, as well as securing and strengthening local livelihoods. Tried and tested concepts and instruments will be adopted in Vanuatu.
The MACBIO project is being implemented by GIZ with technical support from IUCN-Oceania in close collaboration with SPREP.
. The IUCN components of the project aim to achieve the following outcome and outputs:
Outputs (specific project goals):
An ocean-wide policy and spatial planning framework
Project
PEBACC is a five year project funded by the German Government, implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to explore and promote ecosystem-based options for adapting to climate change. The overall intended outcome of the project is: EbA is integrated into development, climate change adaptation responses, and natural resource management policy and planning processes in three Pacific island countries (Vanuatu, Fiji and Solomon Islands) providing replicable models for other countries in the region.
Overall Goal:
· Natural adaptation solutions are fully integrated into development, climate change adaptation and NRM policy and planning processes in four ecologically and geographically diverse Pacific island countries, also providing replicable models for other countries in the region, and is successfully demonstrated through implementation at national, provincial and local levels.The project will employ staff in Vanuatu; In addition to a SPREP Officer who will be the Vanuatu component project leader for this project and may be based in Vanuatu; One or two locally hired positions will directly support the project implementation and develop linkages to other projects and programmes, it is proposed that a locally hired position will be located within the SPC-GIZ CCCPIR.
Relevant projects and strategy to avoid duplication:
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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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The project is a public private partnership in Port Vila, Vanuatu. It comprises solar photovoltaic plants (5 MWp) with a battery energy storage system (BESS) (11.5 MW/6.75 MWh), owned by the Government, and operated and maintained by UNELCO, the private sector utility under its concession agreement. The BESS will stabilize the grid integration of the PV plants and enhance the climate resilience of the power system. The project will double the renewable energy supplied to the grid, decrease diesel fuel consumption by 31%, improve the reliability of the electricity supply, and lower the price of electricity for customers on Efate Island.
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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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Performance-Based Climate Resilience Financing Mechanism in Vanuatu - LoCAL
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Performance-Based Climate Resilience Financing Mechanism in Vanuatu - LoCAL
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Project description: [Brief description of project, key activities and outputs, how will it be implemented?]
The Community Resilience Partnership Program (CRPP) is a regional partnership program of the Asian Development Bank to support selected countries in Asia and the Pacific region, including Vanuatu to (i) scale up local adaptation solutions in alignment with national climate priorities; (ii) finance local adaptation solutions that explicitly address the climate and poverty nexus and are implemented in the context of large-scale poverty reduction programs; and (iii) work with local institutions and communities to build long-term capacity for dealing with climate shocks and stresses. By doing so, the CRPP aims to address the points of procedural and distributive justice so that the people most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change can engage in a fair process and receive a fair share of the benefits of adaptation efforts.
The CRPP comprises two separate but interlinked components; the CRPP Trust Fund (TF) focusing on upstream support to strengthen the enabling environment required for implementing local adaptation measures at scale; and the CRPP Investment Fund (IF) focusing on the efficient roll-out of local adaptation measures through downstream investments.
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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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To reduce the vulnerability of rural communities in Tonga,Vanuatu and Samoa to the impacts of Climate chnage,the proposed project will enable the transition from conventional to climate-resilient, regenerative agricultural (CRRA) practices. Through these practices, the delivery of agricultural ecosystem services will be enhanced and dependence on external inputs reduced.
To support the adoption of CRRA, the proposed project will:
strengthen cross-sectoral partnerships
enhance market incentives for CRRA
Provide training and support for farmers and
implement robust monitoring and knowledge-sharing initiatives to support learning and adaptive implementation of CRRA
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The Van-KIRAP project information in Bislama and English for appropriate action.
The Bislama translation was done by the Government translators.
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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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