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Climate Change in the Pacific

Reducing vulnerability of island coasts

By United Nations Development Programme

March 6^th, 2015

Low-lying coastal areas are often the most populated parts of islands, with villages, towns, agriculture, infrastructure and tourist development competing for space. Unfortunately, coasts are also particularly vulnerable to climate hazards and weather events. Particular vulnerabilities include loss of land and islands from sea level rise and loss of homes and lives from extreme weather events such as cyclones.
The coastal zones of the Pacific are among the most vulnerable in the world, with the greatest number living in these low-elevation areas where land meets ocean. The urbanization of the coasts also magnifies the pressures on this fragile zone. It alters natural drainage flows, causes the sinking of coastal lands, and displaces mangroves, as well as other natural barriers to erosion.
The Pacific is also a region with high dependence on coastal zones, for shipping and transport, and subsistence and commercial fishing. The resulting impacts – coastal erosion, infrastructure damage, flooding and salt water intrusion – present a critical challenge to many Pacific island coastlines.

Climate Change in the Pacific

Cyclone Evan

Damage from Cyclone Evan, Samoa

Coastal erosion in Samoa

Climate Change in the Pacific

Reducing vulnerability of island coasts

Reducing the vulnerability of coasts through appropriate adaptation measures is one of the focus areas of the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) programme. Supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the PACC project is the first major climate change adaptation initiative in the Pacific region, with demonstration projects in 14 Pacific island countries piloting on-the-ground adaptation solutions.
For reducing the vulnerability of island coasts, PACC has four coastal zone projects, in the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa and Vanuatu.

Climate Change in the Pacific

Building a Harbour

In the Cook Islands, the PACC project has built a climate-proof harbour in Mangaia, protecting the island’s coastline and shipping lanes. Combining climate analysis with sophisticated engineering approaches, the project developed new tools to help design a more resilient harbour.

Mangaia Harbour during construction.

Climate Change in the Pacific

Climate-Proofing Coastal Roads

In the Federated States of Micronesia, the project climate-proofed a section of Kosrae’s coastal road. With 80% of the population clinging to the limited coastal lands which ring the island, Kosrae has unique climate risk management and adaptation needs.

The project identified a 7 km section of the road in the Tafunsak municipality which was being progressively damaged by flooding from heavy rains and high tides. Following a socio-economic assessment, community consultations, analysis of climate and sea level projections, and input from expert coastal engineers, the improved road - which has been raised in parts and has larger culverts and better drainage - was redesigned to withstand the heavier rainfall and higher sea levels that are anticipated in the coming decades.

Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia.

Revegetation and RAIsing Awareness

In Samoa, the PACC project worked with the government and local communities to implement a community-based integrated coastal protection model. Designed to increase the resilience of its coastal communities and infrastructure to the impacts of climate change, project activities included re-vegetation of coastal areas, building protection structures, and raising awareness. By successfully combining local knowledge with cutting-edge, sustainable coastal protection technologies, these efforts have supported the livelihoods and infrastructure of Samoan coastal communities.

Climate Change in the Pacific

Climate Change in the Pacific

Climate Change in the Pacific

Climate Change in the Pacific

Vital Infrastructure

In Vanuatu, on the island of Epi, vital infrastructure has been climate-proofed, significantly improving conditions for the island’s 3,000 residents.

Paving existing dirt roads and relocating both a coastal road section and the island’s main airstrip are examples of PACC activities that allow for better mobility across the whole island, and improve access to external goods and services. Previously the confluence of inaccessibe airports, roads, villages, and medical facilities of Epi Island was putting the local population at risk in the case of medical emergency, and hindering their ability to transport goods.

Climate Change in the Pacific

Climate Change in the Pacific

Climate Change in the Pacific

Climate Change in the Pacific

Climate Change in the Pacific

The PACC Programme

Championed by the governments in each participating country, the PACC programme has been funded by the Global Environment Facility‘s Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) – a fund that was established to support adaptation and technology transfer in all developing country parties to the UNFCCC.

Additional funding has been provided by the Australian Government to support the replication of successful adaptation interventions in a broader range of vulnerable communities. Climate change threatens the achievement of development goals. One solution is to mainstream climate change into the development process, i.e. to integrate climate risks into development planning processes and decision making.

The PACC Programme is promoting mainstreaming at all levels, within the country projects and regionally, at the community level through to the highest policy level. Since it began in 2009, the programme has laid the groundwork for more resilient Pacific communities that can cope with climate variability today, and climate change tomorrow.

For more information on the project, please visit the UNDP Project Profile for the PACC Project.

Additional information can be found at http://sprep.org/pacc/experiences/coast and www.pacificclimatechange.net

Climate Change in the Pacific

Climate Change in the Pacific

Climate Change in the Pacific

Climate Change in the Pacific

Climate Change in the Pacific

Climate Change in The PACIFIC: COASTS

Narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson, this short video highlights sea level rise and extreme weather events such as cyclones in the Pacific, and the resulting impacts – coastal erosion, infrastructure damage, flooding and salt water intrusion. It talks about what the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change project is doing to respond to these challenges.

*Special thanks to Prospekt Mira for photos and support in crafting this Photo Essay.

Footnotes

Story by Andrea Egan / Photos: Luke McPake, Joe Hitchcock, and Andrea Egan (Prospekt Mira).

FootNotes

Story by Andrea Egan / Photos: Luke McPake, Joe Hitchcock, and Andrea Egan (Prospekt Mira).

© 2026 United Nations Development Programme

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