Climate Change, Climate Variability and Sea Level Rise

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) continues to report that expected climatic changes over the region will stimulate an increase in extreme weather events that include; higher maximum temperatures, increased number of hot days, more intense rainfall over some areas and an increased frequency and severity of tropical cyclones.

The international community has initiated steps under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to stabilize greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and promoted carbon trading to assist with this overall objective under its Kyoto Protocol. However progress has been slow. While the global commitment needed to stabilise greenhouse gases has not been evident in the climate change convention negotiations, good progress has been made to reduce ozone-depleting substances.

In 2003, mainstreaming climate change into development plans assumed much importance. It was highlighted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), the Delhi Declaration of the 8th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC and in the latest Global environment Facility (GEF) Council Guidance especially in relation to adaptation. Multilateral and bilateral donors also require mainstreaming to be shown as a precondition to assistance. While funding for Adaptation under the Special Climate Change Fund of the UNFCCC has not materialised, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) received or are close to receiving their money under the National Adaptation Plans of Action.

SPREP members have identified five main focal areas to guide the strategic direction for this programme.

Strengthened Meteorological Services

Understanding Climate Change, Variability and sea level rise

Objective: to reduce uncertainties in climate prediction and scenario development through the use of clearinghouse mechanisms.
More research needs to be done to understand climate variability, climate change and sea level rise through information, modelling and clearinghouse mechanisms. Such research needs to identify and assess vulnerabilities as well as impacts.
Project: ARMS

Vulnerability, Adaptation and Mitigation

Objective: to develop frameworks for analysing Impacts and Vulnerability and develop adaptation response measures
Pacific islands urgently need to adapt to climate change and adopt mitigation options and coordination and assistance is needed to assess and implement feasible options and access funds for implementation of activities.
Project: CBDAMPIC, PIGGAREP

Policy Development on Climate Change

Objective: To enhance the development of climate change policy in PICs internationally, regionally and nationally and to identify and secure funding
Technical/legal advisory services needs to be provided to assist Pacific island parties implement the UNFCCC and to ensure consistency with other international processes such as the WSSD Type II initiatives, Barbados Plan of Action +10. Linkages also need to be made with the Convention on Biological Diversity and related instruments such as the Convention on Desertification. At the regional level SPREP will continue to coordinate the Regional Framework for climate change and its attendant round-table process, and assist with mainstreaming climate change into developmental processes and capacity building activities.
No project, make a Policy page

Ozone-Depleting Substances

Objective: To assist in facilitating the phase-out of CFCs by 2005 in eight core countries
Taking into account the linkages between ozone-depleting substances (chlorofluorocarbons) and greenhouse gases, SPREP is working to implement the objectives of Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, to eliminate ozone depleting substances by the year 2005.
Project: ODS