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LAKI for the Pacific subregion

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

UNFCCC

 

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 was prepared to identify 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]  

    
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 settlement 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 a systematic data collection and information systems for health and climate change data 

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   
           

 

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