October 2011: The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) project, implemented by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP), will receive support in the amount of Aus$7.35 from the Australian Government, through AusAID. The additional funding will expand adaptation projects in water supply, coastal management and agriculture in 13 Pacific countries.

The contribution is based on the recognition of the needs for community-based adaptation support in island countries and the vulnerability of Pacific island countries to climate change. It is part of Australia’s International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative.

The project is part of a larger initiative titled Small Island Developing States Community-Based Adaptation (SIDS CBA), a five-year (2011-2016) programme aimed at enhancing the resilience of communities to address climate change impacts, and conserving natural resources and ecosystems to preserve livelihoods. In total, 51 SIDS share similar economic and sustainable development challenges, including lack of resources, growing populations, geographical remoteness, vulnerability to natural disasters, dependence on international trade, high costs for infrastructure such as transportation and communications. Out of the 51 small island countries, the SIDS CBA will target 38 countries across the Caribbean, Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Ocean regions.

The initiative will build on local knowledge and lessons learned from SIDS CBA projects to enhance national and sub-national policies that have the potential to be scaled up and to replicated in other SIDS experiencing similar conditions. [Publication: UNDP Climate Change Adaptation Bulletin – Issue No. 7, October 2011]