National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA).

The National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA) is Kiribati’s response to its commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It is a cross-sectoral plan with national coverage which entered into force in 2007 for a 3-year plan for urgent and immediate actions in Kiribati to being work in adapting to climate change. NAPA identifies prioritized adaptation projects to be implemented. One of the adaptation projects under NAPA will seek to maintain and conserve available good ground water lenses; to gain users confidence in the reliability of the distribution system and promote their willingness to pay, based on consumed quantity; to increase water storage and water resources to meet current demands and at times of serious droughts; to manage risks to water resources throughout the atolls; and to assess impacts of urban water supplies on other natural resources, systems and subsistence activities. And another adaptation project under the NAPA will reduce the burden of diarrhea and other water related diseases and problems particularly among very young and old people in Kiribati.
An adaptation project under the NAPA will seek to gain more detailed information on observed coral bleaching, including factors causing health problems to the corals and ciguatera fish poisoning; to establish, implement a sustainable monitoring programme to cover two atolls; to pilot a restoration scheme for coral species in areas of low growth; to establish marine protected areas; and to establish a project where stock enhancement contributes in maintaining a vigorous coral reef.
An adaptation project under the NAPA will seek to promote public awareness of linkages and consistency of the NAPA with poverty reduction strategies.
An adaptation project under the NAPA will seek to maintain main existing gene banks; to increase and diversify food crop production throughout Kiribati; to make more people attracted to, see economic opportunities in, and engaged in varieties of agricultural systems; and to increase efforts at planning out and meeting support requirements for agricultural activities.
An adaptation project under the NAPA will seek to improve public awareness of the coastal processes and climate change impacts; to develop and pilot community-based coastal management regime; to encourage communities to participate in coastal-ecosystem enhancement projects and to develop their own small scale projects with similar purposes; and to streamline regulatory controls and conditions so as to ensure the resilience of the coastal areas and to ensure the sustainable use of coastal resources is enhanced. Another adaptation project under the NAPA will seek to strengthen the capability of the government to be able to keep abreast of, understand and interpret international scientific information relevancy to Kiribati; to establish a central office to access and share information on climate change issues from reliable regional and international sources; to develop endogenous scientific capability for analysing and reviewing information on, and undertaking research related to climate change; and to enhance Kiribati capacity to implement its obligations under climate change international agreements. Furthermore, another adaptation project under the NAPA will seek to initiate a process of integrating climate change consideration into sector policies, strategies and project planning. Another adaptation project under the NAPA will seek to increase the National Meteorological Service role in enabling the public and individuals to be able to manage risks from extreme weather events. Another adaptation project under the NAPA will seek to prevent encroaching coastal erosion from affecting public infrastructure by upgrading existing seawalls; to improve accessibility within the atolls which has been facilitated by causeways; and to minimize potential risks to assets from climate-related disasters. Another adaptation project under the NAPA will seek to enhance the effectiveness of conveying climate change related information based on Kiribati national circumstances to regional and international meetings on climate change; and to increase Kiribati capability to influence international efforts at mitigating climate change.
Implementation of each NAPA projects will be the responsibility of the Ministry proposing it; the Ministry will undertake the activities that are listed in the relevant project profiles. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Planning will receive funds for the NAPA project, and warrant to each of the proponent Ministries the amounts of funds that are earmarked for their respective projects.