SPC’s vision
A secure, resilient and prosperous Pacific Community, whose people are educated and healthy and manage their resources in an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable way.
SPC is committed to helping Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) address the risks posed by climate variability and climate change. The Pacific region has for centuries been vulnerable to natural climate hazards such as floods, droughts and cyclones. The frequency of such events varies from year to year and decade to decade due to phenomena such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation. Climate change resulting from increased greenhouse gases is posing additional risks for the region, such as increasing air and sea surface temperatures. SPC is working to help PICTs respond to the risks and impacts of climate variability and climate change through its sectoral work and its ‘whole of organisation’ approach and in partnership with other members of the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP).
Climate Change Engagement Strategy for SPC 2011–2015
The strategy provides an overarching framework for SPC’s climate change work, sets organisational objectives and identifies key result areas against which progress can be monitored.
The goal
Pacific Island countries and territories are able to effectively manage the risks presented by climate change.
Basis of the strategy
To assist Pacific Island countries and territories to adopt a sustainable ‘whole of country, whole of region’ approach to addressing climate change challenges, through identification of risks and provision of relevant climate change knowledge, technical assistance and resources to enable them to make informed policy and operational decisions.
Strategic outcomes
The climate change engagement strategy targets three strategic outcomes that are linked directly to SPC’s vision. These are:
- Strengthened capacity of Pacific Island communities to respond effectively to climate change
- Climate change integrated into SPC programmes and operations
- Strengthened partnerships at the regional and international level
SPC’s support for achieving these outcomes is described in the following matrix:
SPC is carrying out a variety of climate change activities through its six technical divisions and its Strategic Engagement, Policy and Planning Facility. For more information about specific activities relating to climate change, follow these links:
- Geoscience Division
- Economic Development Division
- Education, Training and Human Development Division
- Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems Division
- Land Resources Division
- Public Health Division
- Strategic Engagement, Policy and Planning Facility
SPC is also implementing several climate change projects through to 2015 that are funded by external partners; these include:
- Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region (CCCPIR) Implemented in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
- Global Climate Change Alliance: Pacific Small Island States (GCCA: PSIS) Implemented by SPC and funded by the European Union (EU)
International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative: Building resilience in fisheries, agriculture and health Implemented by SPC and funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) - Vegetation and Land Cover Mapping and Improving Food Security for Building Resilience to a Changing Climate in Pacific Island Communities Implemented by SPC and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
SPC publications on Climate Change
Book "Vulnerability of Tropical Pacific Fisheries and Aquaculture to Climate Change" and Policy Briefs
Project Briefs: