Development assistance in the Pacific
The Australian Government is deeply committed to taking real and significant climate action at home and in support of our Pacific partners. This includes making climate change a central pillar of our partnerships, recognising Pacific priorities and leadership. Our increased domestic effort, including our commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, is matched by a suite of decisions to help Pacific island countries reduce their emissions, build resilience to climate change, unlock targeted climate finance, and share innovations in climate adaptation.
As a member of the Pacific Islands Forum, Australia endorsed the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent as a framework to take a strategic and long term approach to Pacific regionalism, including on Climate Change and Disasters, and Oceans and the Environment. In line with the Boe Declaration on Regional Security, we recognise that climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific. We are working together to amplify the collective Pacific voice, including by bidding to host COP31 in partnership with the Pacific, and supporting the Pacific Political Climate Champions Program, and the Pacific Moana Pavilion at the annual United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) meeting.
Australia is ensuring climate change is embedded across our development program in the Pacific. Australia's International Development Policy has climate action at its heart and DFAT's Climate Change Action Strategy also commits to integrate climate change action across Australia's development assistance program globally. This includes in the infrastructure, renewable energy, agriculture, health and education sectors.
Australia is deploying high quality climate finance to meet the needs of our Pacific country partners and is responding flexibly by prioritising grant-based funding for adaptation projects. Australia has strengthened its climate finance commitment and is expected to deliver $3 billion towards the global goal between 2020-2025, largely through existing ODA commitments. Under Australia’s Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership, we are contributing at least $350 million in climate infrastructure for the region.
This approach supports the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific, endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in 2016 as an integrated and coordinated approach to addressing climate change and disaster risk management in the Pacific. Australia has strongly supported the Pacific Resilience Partnership, which leaders established in 2017 to compliment the Framework.
Working with Pacific partner governments
Australia is working in consultation with partner governments in the Pacific to develop programs that address Pacific priorities. The Pacific country links below showcase some of the practical support Australia is providing through bilateral programs to strengthen resilience.
Regional Programs
Australia also supports many regional programs that address aspects of climate change and disaster resilience. Some examples are listed below.
Australian Humanitarian Partnership Disaster READY Program
$100 million, 2017-2027
Disaster Ready is a climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and resilience program, implemented through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership in Timor-Leste and four Pacific countries (Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu). The program aims to strengthen disaster preparedness in cooperation with communities and local organisations and ensure women, youth, children, people living with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are better prepared for and more resilient to disasters and climate change.
Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Program
The Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Program (PHWP) is a Pacific-led, multi-country and multi-donor program that will support 14 Pacific countries and Timor-Leste to further develop disaster preparedness and resilience by building their national humanitarian warehousing capability.
Pacific Resilience Facility
$100 million foundational contribution
As a Pacific-led, owned and managed financing facility, the Pacific Resilience Facility will provide grants for climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, nature-based solutions and projects which respond to loss and damage. It will meet identified climate finance gaps in the Pacific, particularly by providing a more sustainable funding source for smaller scale projects.
Australian Red Cross Partnership
$50 million, 2019-2024
The Australian Red Cross – DFAT Humanitarian Partnership (2019-2024) supports Red Cross National Societies in the Pacific and Timor-Leste, enabling local communities to be better prepared for, respond to and recover from climate-related hazards and disasters. Red Cross National Societies are trusted by national governments and local communities to provide local leadership when preparing for and responding to disasters.
Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific (Phase 3)
$30 million, 2023-2029
The Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac) supports 15 Pacific island countries, through their Meteorological Services to monitor, analyse and communicate information about climate and oceans, including seasonal forecasts and sea level rise. This includes tide and wave data for shipping and fishing, as well as rainfall monitoring and forecasts to support planning in agriculture/food security, water and sanitation, and health.
Weather Ready Pacific
$30 million, 2023-2028
Endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in 2021, the Pacific-led Weather Ready Pacific Program seeks to reduce the human and economic costs of severe weather, water and ocean events across Pacific island communities, by strengthening National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and their partnerships with National Disaster Management Organisations. Weather Ready Pacific will provide for a more resilient and prosperous region – protecting communities and livelihoods, and making a strong contribution to the economy.
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Core Funding
$17.2 million, 2021-2025
Australia’s core funding to the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) helps enable its work with Pacific island countries to protect and improve their environment, and to ensure sustainable development for present and future generations. SPREP is also the lead organisation to coordinate Pacific engagement in United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations.
Governance for Resilient Development in the Pacific (Gov4Res)
$6 million, 2024-2026
The Governance for Resilient Development in the Pacific (Gov4Res) project works in Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. It engages national and local governments and communities, as well as regional organisations, to strengthen decision-making processes and governance systems towards resilient development.
Climate Finance Access Network
$9.5 million, 2023-2026
The Climate Finance Access Network has embedded climate finance experts in Fiji, Kiribati, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu providing localised support and capacity building to help Pacific ministries plan and prepare for climate investment opportunities, structure finance, develop a pipeline of high-impact projects and support country-identified needs.
Pacific Blue Carbon Program
$7.5 million, 2018-2025
Mangroves are often described as the lungs of ocean. Protecting and restoring coastal blue carbon ecosystems (mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrasses) limits additional emissions, protects existing stored carbon, and increases carbon sequestration. Through the Pacific Blue Carbon Program, Australia is supporting national climate action and livelihoods in PNG and Fiji through enhanced measurement and investment in blue carbon ecosystems, and supporting Indigenous engagement to draw on the knowledge and experience of First Nations peoples in managing these important environmental assets. The program also aims to demonstrate blue carbon financing and investment approaches through pilot projects, to explore nature financing approaches including carbon offsets and to protect and restore marine ecosystems.
ReefCloud
$10.1 million, 2023-2025
Partnering with AIMS, ReefCloud utilises artificial intelligence systems to allow local communities and Indigenous ranger groups to collect data on their reefs, upload them to cloud based systems and analyse them. Data will support governments to undertake management planning, including for high value ecosystems.
Kiwa Initiative
$6 million, 2020-2030
Australia contributes to the multi-donor Kiwa Initiative – Nature Based Solutions for Climate Resilience, which is led by the French Development Agency (AFD). This Initiative aims to strengthen resilience to climate change through biodiversity conservation for Pacific islands ecosystems, communities and economies.