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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
​​​​​​​​​​​​