Kiribati Adaptation Project (KAP II) - Risk Assessment and Adaptation Planning
Extract of a Google Earth map produced as part of the project
The exercise offered a capacity building opportunity as well as a successful integration of skills, knowledge and ideas of the members of the Working Group.
Working Group Member
Problem
- Kiribati is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the effects of climate change and sea level rise. Most of the land in urban Tarawa is less than three metres above sea level, and the island has an average width of only 450 metres, rendering retreat adaptation options untenable. This situation is typical of most islands in the country.
- Kiribati is increasingly vulnerable to climate change due to high population concentration, accelerated coastal development, shoreline erosion, and environmental degradation.
- To address these rising risks, the Government of Kiribati received funding from a number of donors including the World Bank, the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), AusAID and NZAID, to undertake work to reduce Kiribati's vulnerability to climate change, climate variability and sea level rise.
- Existing legislation and institutional arrangements regarding coastal zone management were not addressing Kiribati's vulnerability to climate change. In addition the country lacked the capacity, expertise and practical tools to perform risk assessments to inform policy and site specific coastal management decisions.
- A key challenge was to translate international best practice into practical and sustainable solutions that were specific to Kiribati. Building in-country knowledge and capacity was also a priority.
 Photos courtesy of the Working Group
Approach
- Coastal Zone Management Pty Ltd worked closely with stakeholders to develop a climate change risk diagnosis and planning process for Kiribati that would address coastal hazards within the context of climate change.
- A comprehensive review of existing legislation and institutional arrangements regarding coastal zone management was undertaken to develop key recommendations for legislation and institutional arrangements. The objective was to develop a coordinated approach to coastal management, whilst mainstreaming climate change into operations. A three-staged approach, based on the concept of capability spectrums, was developed. The approach allows government - regardless of its current capabilities - to consider what it needs to improve in its capacity to move forward on the capability spectrum. The model provides a staged approach to institutional reform.
- CZM also developed and trialled an approach to climate change risk assessment that was appropriate and specific to Kiribati. The risk-based approach was trialled in two sites in South Tarawa (Bikenibeu and Temaiku).
- CZM worked alongside GoK officials to trial this methodology, which built on previous work by KAP and took into account international best practice. The trial resulted in the production of site-specific sea-level rise and storm-surge inundation maps; the identification of high priority risks; and the development of strategic adaptation strategies to address the identified risks.
Benefits
- The Coastal Working Group recognised the trial proved to be highly relevant and appropriate to the needs of GoK in advancing the in-country understanding of the practical impacts of climate change and sea-level rise.
Throughout the whole process, the Working Group maintained strong ownership. The Working Group even conducted additional work to ensure a robust analysis, including field visits, field verification of Risk Assessment outcomes, community consultation and writing the final Risk Assessment report. We are very pleased with the project outcomes, particularly the technical capacity that key Government staff now have.
CZM Project Team member
The Working Group, during a field visit
Follow up Project in 2009
- Due to the positive outcomes delivered and the benefits derived for the Working Group, the project was extended to include further training and capacity building activities. This follow up adopted a ‘train-the-trainer' approach. CZM trained a core group of participants (covering Ministerial departments with a role in coastal management). These staff will become key representatives responsible for up-skilling staff within their ministry in the risk assessment process and adaptation approach. To achieve this objective, risk assessment process and adaptation approach was enhanced, incorporating lessons learned during earlier project stages.
- Outcomes from the Project included:
o Development of risk assessment and adaptation handbook.
o Expansion of the risk assessment and adaptation planning from two discrete sites to all villages within South Tarawa (map of risk levels below)
o New ways of visualizing mapping data, which was simplified to improve accessibility. Google Earth mapping files mapped sea level rise hazards against existing GoK infrastructure, such as housing, electricity and water.
o Development of Excel templates to support the Multi Criteria Analysis undertaken in adaptation planning.
- Maps produced in the original project stages were updated to incorporate new sea level rise predictions, taken from the updated NIWA Coastal Calculator. Changes in data values meant site-specific sea level rise and storm-inundation maps were re-created.
Members now have a better understanding on the risk assessment process. The risk assessment outcome is very useful and will assist with decision and policy making for Kiribati.
Working Group Member
Map of risk levels across Kiribati
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