Rapid climate risk assessment boosts Vanuatu’s resilience

Vanuatu is responding to climate change by providing a framework for decision-makers to rapidly assess climate risks across different sectors and invest in community resilience.

Vanuatu is subject to multiple climate hazards that have historically caused devastating damage. These hazards will be exacerbated by climate change. 

Beca collaborated with Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment (SPREP) to contribute to the Climate Information Services for Resilient Development Planning in Vanuatu (Van-KIRAP). We developed a Rapid Climate Risk Assessment Framework and associated tool designed to be user-friendly for sector experts, offering a consistent method for conducting climate risk analysis.  

Van-KIRAP empowers decision makers, development partners, communities, and individuals across sectors: tourism, agriculture, fisheries, infrastructure, and water. The key objective is to enhance their capacity to plan for and respond to climate variability and change.

The tool identifies the top three climate hazards and key elements at risk that could impact any sector or industry.  This supports prioritisation for climate risks and pinpoints where adaptation activities may be necessary. 

Extensive virtual and in-person workshops were held, engaging 20 cross-government sector stakeholders and designed to establish a solid foundation of climate risk understanding. These sessions involved trialling the risk assessment tool through a tourism sector case study, ensuring practical application and comprehension.

The tool's ease of use and consistency enhance sector collaboration, ultimately strengthening community resilience towards climate change.