Phase one of the Building Resilience to Climate Change Adaptation Project is now underway in the five pilot provinces.
The project is being conducted at Milne Bay, Manus, Morobe, East New Britain and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville over six years, piloted in 21 vulnerable island communities.
The project aims to bring about change by mainstreaming climate resilience into development plans that address country priorities, focusing on vulnerable communities.
It intends to link national, provincial, district, and ward level plans and demonstrate how these can be aligned to adapt to climate change.
There are three stages; the first is the climate vulnerability impact assessment stage carried out by project team from the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) and provincial stakeholders.
CCDA acting managing director, Ruel Yamuna, told Loop PNG that they are progressing well so far and hope to complete the first stage soon so that they can move on to implementation.
Yamuna explained that they are working with the provincial governments and community-based organisations on the ground.
They are now gathering relevant data based on which areas are most affected by climate change.
The project looks at preparing climate change vulnerability assessment and adaptation plans, sustainable fishery ecosystems, food security, climate-resilient coastal infrastructure and early warning communications.
The three implementing agencies are Coastal Fisheries Development Agency (CFDA), PNG Ports Corporation Limited and the National Research Institute (NRI).
A Memorandum of Understanding for the project was signed in March.
The project is administered by the Asian Development Bank but funded by the Climate Investment Bank worth $US27.29 million (K88.79 million).