A national climate change adaptation project

Global Climate Change Alliance

Addressing water sector climate change vulnerabilities in the outlying island states of Palau

Focusing on the specific water issues experienced by residents in remote island communities – climate change adaptation in Palau.

Project amount How does this project assist climate remote island communities. There has been a change adaptation? need for flexibility as the project progresses. € 0.5 million (approx. USD 0.66 million) funded by For example, Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 affected the European Union Water security has been identified as a key Kyangel, Palau’s northernmost island state, challenge for Palau. This is a conclusion drawn creating the need to reassess and redesign Project period from vulnerability and adaptation assessments local project implementation. conducted in-country by both government and 31 July 2013 to 30 June 2015 • The Palau Public Utilities Corporation non-governmental organisations. The problem infrastructure has been significantly is considered particularly acute among the more enhanced. For example, a backup generator Implementing agencies remote outlying islands. and carbon filters and aerators have been Office of Environmental Response and added to the Angaur water system, as well Coordination; Palau Public Utilities Corporation Climate change is exacerbating problems in the as improvements to household and communal Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) water sector because (i) air temperatures are water systems in other islands. projected to continue rising, affecting evaporation • Innovative partnerships have addressed the Partners rates and the availability of good quality water; challenges faced in implementing project (ii) changes in precipitation and extreme weather activities in extremely remote communities. Pacific Resources for Education and Learning events will contribute to water scarcity; and For example, the project partnered with the US (Water for Life project) (iii) the sea level will continue to rise, which Civil Action Team to repair the water cisterns can further stress the availability and quality of in Sonsorol. Project synopsis groundwater supply in small, low-lying islands. • Extraction of water from the underground freshwater lens is an important part of The ‘Addressing water sector climate change the water supply for these outlying island vulnerabilities in the outlying island states of Responding to the priority needs identified states. The project is contributing to the Palau’ project is improving water infrastructure in Palau, this project is improving water understanding of sustainable extraction rates in Palau’s five outlying island States - Angaur, infrastructure and increasing the resilience of from these lenses. Hatohobei, Kayangel, Sonsorol and Peleliu. Palauan communities to negative climate change Rainwater catchment systems in Hatohobei and impacts. The project’s focus was determined by the Sonsorol are being repaired and replaced,and Government of Palau and included widespread groundwater pumping and distribution systems consultation. Palau is responsible for the project’s will be upgraded in the other three states. Key highlights of the project implementation. The project is also conducting hydrological • It is the first national project to address water assessments; expanding water systems issues among all of the outlying island states monitoring and maintenance regimes; and • Project components focus on the specific providing water conservation education. water issues experienced by residents in A regional climate change adaptation project

Global Climate Change Alliance

The Global Climate Change Alliance: Pacific Small Island States project in Palau

Palau is vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Together with eight other countries it is part of the GCCA: PSIS project.

The Global Climate Change Alliance: Pacific Small Training • providing technical assistance to the National Island States (GCCA: PSIS) project is a four-year Development Bank of Palau to design, promote € 11.4 million initiative funded by the European Country participation in training for: and trial a water conservation incentives Union. It is implemented regionally by the • proposal preparation, project design and programme. Subsidies will be offered Secretariat of the Pacific Community and involves budgeting, monitoring and evaluation; through home and commercial loan packages national climate change adaptation projects • media training, conveying information on to encourage new construction, building in nine Pacific Island countries – Cook Islands, climate change to the public using radio, renovation, and improvement projects to Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall television and print media; and incorporate water catchment and conservation Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Tonga and Tuvalu. • utilising the Pacific Climate Change Portal, a measures. The incentives programme is being regional gateway to information about climate modelled on a successful energy efficiency The overall objective of the GCCA: PSIS project change and related activities in the Pacific subsidy programme; is to support the governments of the nine Pacific region. • assisting Palau to develop a national climate small island states in their efforts to tackle the change policy framework. The policy work is adverse effects of climate change. National climate change mainstreaming progressing through consultations with all Mainstreaming refers to the process of embedding societal sectors to build a coordinated national The Government of Palau is implementing a climate change planning in the spectrum of framework through which strategic and national climate change adaptation project (see government ministries, sectoral plans and prioritised actions can be taken to build the reverse side for more information) with € 0.5 activities. Relevant GCCA: PSIS activities include: resilience of Palau to climate change. million provided by the European Union. • a review of the extent of climate change mainstreaming in national strategic plans, In addition to this project funding, Palau can policies and budgets in Palau. This was access specialised technical assistance and conducted to inform an assessment of the training provided through a pooled resource country’s readiness to receive international allocation in the regional GCCA: PSIS umbrella climate finance through budget support project. This mechanism is providing the following mechanisms; in Palau.

In partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme