Port Vila, Vanuatu, 27 February 2026 – Vanuatu advanced a critical national response to climate change through the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Validation and Prioritization Workshop held in Port Vila, marking a key milestone in turning climate risk evidence into coordinated, actionable solutions. 

As the country faces intensifying tropical cyclones, prolonged droughts, ocean acidification, recent earthquakes, and sea-level rise, the workshop brought together government leaders, technical experts, civil society, and development partners to validate and consolidate Climate Risk Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) findings ensuring they reflect sectoral realities and local context. Build a shared understanding across technical experts and decision-makers by integrating scientific evidence with practitioner experience, enabling coherent and coordinated adaptation planning. Apply a transparent prioritization framework to identify a focused set of high-impact, feasible adaptation actions that deliver resilience and development co-benefits.  

“The Vanuatu National Adaptation Plan is the Government’s strategy to manage climate risk, safeguard development progress, and guide resilient investment. It strengthens our climate rationale for accessing international climate finance and ensures that our adaptation efforts are aligned with national development objectives,” said David Gibson, Director General to the Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management.   

Early discussions focused on social sectors that underpin community resilience. Participants identified priority actions to strengthen climate-resilient education systems, including safer school infrastructure, improved WASH in schools, disaster preparedness, and learning continuity during climate and geophysical shocks. Health and nutrition sessions emphasized resilient health facilities, improved data coordination, continuity of essential services, mental health, and child protection. Water security was also highlighted, with actions prioritized to address water scarcity, contamination, disease risks, and damage to WASH infrastructure. 

Environmental protection was a strong theme throughout the discussion. “It is crucial that the Vanuatu National Adaptation Plan captures and protects significant biodiversity and ecosystems in the country,” said Mr. Dean Wotlolan, Senior Biodiversity and Conservation Officer at the Vanuatu Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation. He noted that “adaptation strategies and action plans need to be aligned so funding can be streamlined, reducing implementation costs.” 

The workshop then turned to agriculture and forestry, sectors central to food security and rural livelihoods. Participants agreed on actions to improve climate data and research, strengthen planning and coordination, increase funding support, expand farmer training, and improve infrastructure and policy frameworks. Forestry discussions emphasized sustainable forest management, conservation, and reducing climate risks for forest-dependent communities. “The National Adaptation Plan is important for the forestry sector because it provides a clear way forward to support forestry adaptation measures and interventions,” said Mr. Godfrey Bome, Acting Director of the Vanuatu Department of Forestry. “We look forward to endorsing the plan and being part of the implementation phase.” 

Later sessions addressed ecosystems, fisheries, tourism, and infrastructure, recognizing their interconnected role in national resilience and economic stability. Key priorities included ecosystem conservation and water catchment protection, addressing ocean acidification, marine heatwaves, reef degradation, and resource scarcity affecting fisheries, strengthening climate-resilient roads and telecommunications, and improving policies, data, and coordination for a more resilient tourism sector. Highlighting the importance of oceans to the nation’s future, Mr. Sompert Gereva, Deputy Director (Coastal) at the Vanuatu Fisheries Department, said, “Vanuatu’s land mass is more than 80 percent water, and the nation’s biggest resource is fish. Through the National Adaptation Plan, we will highlight areas that will drive adaptation in line with climate change activities in communities, so people can continue to benefit from the fisheries sector.” 

Infrastructure resilience is featured across all sectors. “Climate change is a cross-cutting issue affecting all sectors and communities,” said Mr. Nathan Tabi, Principal Engineer (Planning and Operation) at the Vanuatu Public Works Department. “Much of our infrastructure is heavily impacted, making it critical that future planning and design under the National Adaptation Plan are adaptive, resilient, and take future climate impacts into account.” 

The NAP aims to improve climate adaptation governance and technical capacity at both national and provincial levels. Develop comprehensive, evidence-based national and Provincial Adaptation Plans (PAP), with the CRVA. Engage the private sector as a key partner in climate resilience and enhance access to climate finance from international donors and from domestic and private sector sources.  

Global Green Growth Institute’s (GGGI) Deputy Country Representative in Vanuatu, Dheeraj Arrabothu said “The workshops mark a transition from evidence generation to collective decision-making. It reflects sector realities and prioritizes the most impactful and feasible adaption actions for implementation.”  

He continued “It will contribute to completing the National Adaption Plan and shape future concept notes and investments that will benefit communities across all provinces of Vanuatu.” 

The initiative is implemented by the GGGI in partnership with the Vanuatu Department of Climate Change, with funding from the Green Climate Fund. The NAP aligns with Vanuatu 2030: The People’s Plan and Vanuatu’s NDC 3.0, reflecting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to strengthening national resilience. 

By validating climate risks and prioritizing evidence-based adaptation actions across sectors, the workshop lay the foundation for coordinated implementation and investment, positioning Vanuatu to respond more effectively to the escalating impacts of climate change and recent seismic events, while protecting its people, ecosystems, and national identity. 

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For more information, visit:  https://gggi.org    

Precious Akampumuza  

Vanuatu Senior Climate Adaptation Officer 

precious.akampumuza@gggi.org

GGGI Pacific (Regional Office)     

Kelly Vacala, Regional Communications & Knowledge Sharing Lead

kelly.vacala@gggi.org