Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative (LAKI) for the Pacific subregion

Partnership with Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)

Objectives

The three main goals are:

Prioritize knowledge gaps for target knowledge users in the Pacific subregion. The Pacific subregion consists of 14 Small Island Developing States (SIDS), as well as Australia, New Zealand and 7 Pacific island territories, but in the context of this initiative the latter are not included. The Pacific subregion for the LAKI consists of Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Close priority knowledge gaps for the target knowledge users in the Pacific subregion by convening adaptation experts and institutions to take actions and scale up adaptation action in the Pacific subregion.
Gather evidence (that capture success/progress) and strengthen the alignment with the UNFCCC as well as other relevant processes/forums.

Co-convenors and subregional coordination entity

For the LAKI initiative in the Pacific subregion, the collaboration is with Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN), GAN’s regional node in the Asia-Pacific, UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and SPREP (NWP partner)- a subregional coordination entity for the Pacific.

Scoping paper

A scoping paper is currently being prepared that identifies knowledge gaps for specific knowledge users for the Pacific subregion based on technical inputs from reference group of experts (The members of the group are “core” experts for the prioritisation exercise).

A) Priority Setting Workshop:

A priority-setting workshop was jointly organized by UNEP, SPREP and the UNFCCC secretariat to prioritize knowledge gaps for target knowledge users in the Pacific subregion using a LAKI methodology from 23-26 Feb 2021. Please click here to access the full workshop report.

During the virtual workshop, the Reference Group of Experts undertook the following, consistent with the methodology:

Discuss, clarify and categorize knowledge gaps;
Prioritize the knowledge gaps.

See the outcomes on priority knowledge gaps for Pacific subregion here.

For more information on the Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative, click here.

B) Priority Adaptation Knowledge Gaps and Actions Undertaken to Close the Priority Knowledge Gaps:

The list of priority knowledge gaps identified for the PSIDS subregion are provided in a table below. To read more about an ongoing initiative to close the knowledge gaps in the SIDS subregion, please check here.

*No.*	*Thematic area*	*Gap Description*	*Cluster*	*Knowledge User*	*Actions Undertaken to close the Priority Gaps*
1)	Social protection and gender (marginalized/vulnerable groups)	Lack of knowledge to include women, girls, people with disabilities in designing and implementing adaptation plans and policies	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]	Project designers and implementers, policy makers, decision makers, communities, NGOs, CSOs
2)	Infrastructure and human settlements	Lack of capacity to support climate proofing infrastructure.	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Civil engineers, town and country planners, construction companies, building material suppliers, private sector, local communities
3)	Institutional strengthening	Lack of knowledge to access climate change adaptation funds	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Climate change officers, finance officers, relevant sector officers, NGOs, CSOs, faith based organisations, local communities
4)	Health	Inadequate Early Warning System for health	Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Environmental health officers, epidemiologist, health inspectors, water officers, local communities, schools, NGOs, CSOs, faith based organisations
5)	Social protection and gender (marginalized/vulnerable groups)	Lack of data on gender	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]	Project designers and implementers, policy makers, decision makers
6)	Human health	Lack of information to understand the impacts of climate change on food security and health (i.e. nexus of Climate change, food security and health)	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Health professionals, Food nutritionists, food security officials, communities
7)	Infrastructure and human settlements	Lack of knowledge of climate change impacts on human settlements	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]	Civil engineers, town and country planners, construction companies, building material suppliers, private sector, local communities
8)	Social protection and gender (marginalized/vulnerable groups)	Lack of access to Early Warning System by youth and remote communities	Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Social workers, local government, town and country planning, natural disaster management officers, NGOs, CSOs, faith based organisations, youth groups, remote communities
9)	Water resources	Lack of tools and methods to assess climate change impacts on water resources for water conservation and management (link to fisheries, agriculture and health)	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Water experts, town and country planners
10)	Institutional strengthening	Lack of tools to integrate traditional knowledge for adaptation and disaster risk reduction	Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Climate change officers, environment officers, local communities, NGOs, CSOs
11)	Human health	Lack of information and tools to assess impact of climate change on mental/psychosocial health	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Health professionals, psychologists, social health staff, counsellors, health inspectors, post disaster assessment officers
12)	Institutional strengthening	Lack of data to assess impacts of climate change and to develop cost-effective solutions	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Climate change officers, bank officers, insurance officers, town and country planners, finance officers
13)	Water resources	Lack of knowledge and tools for monitoring water sources	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Water experts, agriculture officers, health officers, town and country planners
14)	Information and communications technology	Lack of access to meteorological data in climate change decision making	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	All relevant sectors
15)	Information and communications technology	Lack of access to climate risks information to inform policy and planning	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Policy developers, town and country planning, environment officers, fisheries officers, agriculture officers
16)	Coastal and marine ecosystems	Lack of knowledge to monitor coastal and marine ecosystems	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Fisheries officers, environment officers, NGOs, CSOs, faith based organisations, local communities
17)	Water resources	Lack of methods and tools for analyzing water quality and quantity due to impacts of climate change	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Water experts, agriculture officers, health officers, country and town planners
18)	Institutional strengthening	Lack of knowledge to conduct Technology Needs Assessment	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Climate change officers, energy officers, fisheries officers, agriculture officers, water experts
19)	Institutional strengthening	Lack of knowledge to assess climate change vulnerability and adaptation (V &A)	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Climate change officers, environment officers
20)	Human health	Lack of data on health system to monitor impacts of climate change against climate sensitive diseases	Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Environmental health officers, epidemiologists, health ispectors, water officers
21)	Social protection and gender (marginalized/vulnerable groups)	Lack of integrated Early Warning System to facilitate information flow before and after events	Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Social workers, local government, town and country planning, natural disaster management officers, NGOs, CSOs, faith based organisations
22)	Infrastructure and human settlements	Lack of monitoring tools to identify hazard areas in order to mitigate flooding	Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Civil engineers, town and country planners, construction companies, building material suppliers, private sector, local communities, water experts, agricultural officers, health inspectors
23)	Water resources	Lack of effective awareness raising activities for water and public health	Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	NGOs, CSOs, faith based organisations, local communities
24)	Agriculture, fisheries, livestock and forestry	Lack of access to information on sustainable agricultural practices	Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Subsistence and commercial farmers, local communities
25)	Infrastructure and human settlements	Lack of data knowledge to mainstream climate change into infrastructure and settlement plans	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]	Urban Planners, utilities, decision makers
26)	Institutional strengthening	Lack of tools and methods to mainstream climate change in various development planning and processes	Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	All government ministries, Ministry of Finance, Climate Change, Environment, Health, Agriculture, Fisheries, Infrastructure, Water
27)	Institutional strengthening	Lack of knowledge on impacts of climate change on various sectors	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	All sectors, private sector, NGOs, CSOs, faith based organizations
28)	Information and communications technology	Lack of tools for information and knowledge sharing between government and stakeholders	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	All relevant government ministries, non- governmental organisations (NGOs), private sector, faith-based organisations and development partners
29)	Human health	Lack of substantial evidence on impact of climate change on non-communicable diseases	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Environmental health officers, epidemiologist, health inspectors, water officers, local communities, schools, NGOs, CSOs, faith based organisations
30)	Information and communication technology	Lack of a database of adaptation practices, classified by sector, with examples from across the region	Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]	National government climate change officials, project developers, academia, regional organisations, communicators, project designers
31)	Institutional strengthening	Lack of tools and methods to conduct risk assessment of climate change at sector level	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	All relevant sectors, decision makers, town and country planners
32)	Agriculture, fisheries, livestock and forestry	Lack of tools and methods for understanding of future impacts of climate change on agriculture and food production	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Agriculture Extension Officers, subsistence and commercial farmers, health inspectors, water officers, land use planning officers
33)	Human health	Lack of knowledge on customary and modern strategies, tools and methods for monitoring and managing disease vectors such as mosquitos	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Environmental health officers, epidemiologist, health inspectors, water officers, local communities, schools, NGOs, CSOs, faith based organisations
34)	Infrastructure and human settlements	Lack of knowledge on migration and displacement due to impacts of climate change	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Communities, policy makers, planners, immigration officers, social workers, utility service providers, DRM officers
35)	Social protection and gender (marginalized and vulnerable groups)	Lack of knowledge to design/implement social protection initiatives (link to gender)	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]	Communities, farmers, fishers, project designers
36)	Institutional strengthening	Lack of knowledge of climate science and tools and methods to monitor impacts of climate change	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Meteorology officers
37)	Information and communication technology	Lack of tools and skills for downscaling climate scenarios	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Climate change officers, agriculture officers, water experts, health officers, town and country planners, NGOs, CSOs, faith based organisations
38)	Information and communication technology	Lack of use of communication tools (applications and social media) as medium to communicate climate change information	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Farmers, service providers (NGOs, government agencies, international partners)
39)	Institutional strengthening	Lack of tools and methods for undertaking vulnerability mapping, adaptation planning and implementation of adaptation interventions	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]	Local communities, NGOs, CSOs
40)	Coastal and marine ecosystem	Lack of scientific data and/access to data on coral reef monitoring	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]	Fisheries officers, environment officers, NGOs, CSOs, faith based organisations, local communities
41)	Agriculture, fisheries, livestock and forestry	Lack of access to knowledge of crop resilience skills	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Subsistence and commercial farmers, local communities
42)	Terrestial ecosystems	Lack of data on erosion hotspots	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]	Agriculture officers, landuse planners, utility service providers, communities, conservation officers, farmers
43)	Agriculture, fisheries, livestock and forestry	Lack of data to assess the impacts of climate change on fisheries monitoring such as fish stocks (Fisheries off shore and near shore)	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Fisheries officers, commercial fishing companies, local communities
44)	Agriculture, fisheries, livestock and forestry	Lack of knowledge and tools for land use and land use management practices	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Agriculture Extension Officers, subsistence and commercial farmers, Planning officers (refine term)
45)	Infrastructure and human settlements	Lack of data for understanding climate change impacts on public assets	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Civil engineers, town and country planners, construction companies, building material suppliers, private sector, local communities
46)	Human health	Lack of information on impacts of climate change on health- related illness, morbidity, mortality, and productivity	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Health professionals
47)	Terrestial ecosystem	Lack of tools (e.g. GIS) for land use and land use management (link to Human Settlement)	Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Agricultural officers, forestry officers, town and country planning
48)	Infrastructure and human settlements	Lack of knowledge to utilize information on climate change impacts to design climate- resilient infrastructure	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]	Civil engineers, town and country planners, construction companies, building material suppliers, private sector, local communities
49)	Coastal and marine ecosystem	Lack of knowledge to integrate ecosystem- based adaptation into programme design and lack of knowledge of the limits to EBA in the face of future climate change.	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Fisheries officers, environment officers, NGOs, CSOs, faith based organisations, local communities
50)	Agriculture, fisheries, livestock and forestry	Lack of knowledge on soil health, soil fertility and water management in agriculture	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Agriculture Extension Officers, subsistence and commercial farmers
51)	Coastal and marine ecosystem	Lack of knowledge on ocean acidification adaptation solutions	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]	Coastal communities
52)	Social protection and gender (marginalized and vulnerable groups)	Lack of knowledge of environmental and social safeguards	Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Project developers, project managers, project beneficiaries
53)	Human health	Lack of communication to raise awareness regarding impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on public health	Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Local communities, schools, NGOs, CSOs, faith based organizations
54)	Coastal and marine ecosystem	Lack of data to monitor mangroves	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]	Environment officers, fisheries officers
55)	Human health	Lack of a systematic data collection and information systems for health and climate change data	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Environmental health officers, epidemiologist, health inspectors, water officers
56)	Human health	Lack of understanding climate change impacts on the health sector	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Environmental health officers, epidemiologist, health inspectors, water officers, local communities, schools, NGOs, CSOs, faith based organizations
57)	Infrastructure and human settlements	Lack of knowledge of climate proofing of human settlements certification	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Civil engineers, town and country planners, construction companies, building material suppliers, private sector, local communities
58)	Institutional strengthening	Lack of access to national climate change research data and information	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]	Decision makers, climate change officers, environment officers, town and country planners, project/programme developers, academic researchers
59)	Coastal and marine ecosystem	Lack of knowledge and tools for mangrove monitoring	Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Environment officers, fisheries officers
60)	Agriculture, fisheries, livestock and forestry	Insufficient research data on climate resilient crops	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]	Agriculture Extension Officers, subsistence and commercial farmers
61)	Social protection and gender (marginalized and vulnerable groups)	Lack of tools to manage data and information for ‘vulnerable' people	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Social workers, local government, town and country planning, natural disaster management officers, NGOs, CSOs, faith based organisations
62)	Agriculture, fisheries, livestock and forestry	Lack of information on Livestock Management	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]; Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]	Livestock farmers, small scale farmers
63)	Information and communication technology	Lack of data to meet reporting obligations to UNFCCC	Lack of data (or limited data) [1]	Climate change officers, environment officers and all relevant ministries and offices involved in NC process
64)	Coastal and marine ecosystem	Lack of Wave Modelling data for determining impact of climate change on coral reefs	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of tools and methods to process knowledge into actionable form [4]	Fisheries officers, environment officers, NGOs, CSOs, faith based organisations, local communities
65)	Agriculture, fisheries, livestock and forestry	Lack of knowledge and/or access to information on nutrients use and manure management for climate resilient agriculture system	Lack of access to existing knowledge [2]; Lack of actionable knowledge (e.g., in need of repackaging existing knowledge) [3]	Farmers