Integrated Methods and Models for Assessing Coastal Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change in Pacific Island Countries (Kanayathu Koshy, Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, The University of the South Pacific, Fiji)

The project goal is to enhance the technical and human capacity of Pacific Island countries to assess vulnerability and adaptation to climate change, including variability. The project has three main objectives. First, to develop the "next generation" of integrated assessment methods and models, for application at island and sub-island scales. This objective will be met through research and methodological development that focuses on innovative improvements to the first-order, island-specific models that have been developed over the last several years. The innovations relate to the development and incorporation of: sea-level scenario generator; human dimensions components; socio-economic baseline scenario generator; capacity for multi-scale (island, community-level, site-specific) analyses; improved coastal impact models; explicit adaptation options; economic tools for evaluation; and "open architecture" features to improve versatility. Many of these advancements will be generic and thus applicable to other small island developing states. The second objective is to expand the understanding and knowledge concerning impacts and adaptation to climate change in the Pacific by implementing, testing and applying the improved methods in case studies representing low atoll and high volcanic island situations. The third objective is to build in-country research capacity through training in, and transfer of, the advanced methods and integrated assessment models.

Countries and sectors: The Pacific island region, with case studies of a low atoll island (Aitutaki, Cook Islands), and a high volcanic island (Viti Levu, Fiji). Coasts, infrastructure, water resources, agriculture.