Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Act 2019.

This Act lays down rules for helping communities to reduce, adapt to, prepare for, respond to and recover from the impacts of disasters and climate change; providing for effective and coordinated action on disaster risk management and climate change; and supporting the implementation of international guidelines and commitments under relevant international agreements, including related to women and marginalized groups. The Beretitenti has overall responsibility for protection of people in Kiribati from disasters and climate change, acting upon advice of the Cabinet. This Act sets forth provisions on the duties and responsibilities of the lead Ministry, the Government ministries and agencies, local administrations, and Island Disaster Committees and Taskforces; the establishment of the Disaster and Climate Change Rapid Response Fund; actions to cope with disasters and climate, including prevention, mitigation, adaptation and risk reduction and disaster preparedness, response and recovery; the assistance from non-governmental and international organizations; and offences and penalties. This Act underlines that the actions under this Act for disaster risk management and climate change shall be in conformity with international normative standards, tools and guidelines, as provided for in the Regulations to this Act. Furthermore, the fundamental rights of people affected by climate change and disasters shall be protected, including the rights set out in Paragraph 33. The Ministry responsible for environment, land and agricultural development and the Ministry responsible for fisheries and marine resources development shall take necessary preventive measures taking into account the impacts of climate change and disasters on the environment, food security, livelihoods, protection of animals, controlling biosecurity threats, management of solid and hazardous waste, land use, coastal fisheries and marine resources.
Moreover, this Act makes minor amemdments in the Kiribati Maritime Act 2017 regarding the powers and obligations of the National On-Scene Commander and his/her coordination with the Disaster Controller under the Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Act 2019. In the event of a marine pollution incident, the National On-Scene Commander makes the final decision in relation to containment of the marine pollution, however he/she makes the decision with the Disaster Controller in relation to any human or onshore consequences of the marine pollution. Finally, new powers and obligations of the National On-Scene Commander were inserted to the Section 235(2), such as protecting life at sea and prioritizing minimized harm to human and marine life; and notifying the Ministry in the event the marine pollution that impacts human activities, including fishing and shore-based activities.