National Framework for Climate Change and Climate Change Adaptation.

This National Framework for Climate Change and Climate Change Adaptation is a national policy with a cross-sectoral approach. The overall goal of the National Framework is to secure the nation’s future by reducing the impacts and consequences of climate change.
This National Framework underlines that climate change is a major threat for the environmental, social and economic development. Therefore climate change will be integrated into national planning and institutional capacity building. All stakeholders will be involved in climate change adaptation activities at all levels and climate change, higher sea levels and more severe weather conditions will be taken into consideration in all decision-making processes related to planning and utilisation of resources exposed to climatic risk. Regarding external financial and technical assistance, an international legally binding mechanism will be established for the flow of new and additional funds to address all adaptation needs. Mitigation measures will be taken against emissions of GHGs to reduce the impacts of climate change on vital marine, terrestrial and water resources by taking into account global sea levels, increasing sea-surface temperatures and extreme weather conditions. Early warning systems will be established for preparedness and mitigation in the long term. Public awareness will be raised by bringing attention to the issue of climate change in cooperation with NGOs. In order to increase the resilience to extreme events such as tsunami, storm, drought, extreme spring tides and others, disaster risk management and climate change adaptation will be ensured in a systematic and integrated manner. Moreover the Government shall take measures against increasing population to reduce the pressure on environment and natural resources through adult education, school curriculum development, family planning and mother and child health services aimed at lowering fertility. Initiatives will be undertaken by the Government to ensure survivability and self-reliance when a natural disaster occurs. The ability of communities will be improved to better anticipate, resist, prepare for, respond to and recover from the impacts. This National Framework stresses on the most affected resources by climate change such as freshwater, marine, coastal and land resources. Water collection and storage systems will be improved against extreme conditions to ensure water supply. Furthermore use of existing resources will be optimized and new resources will be developed. Land resources will be protected against erosion and flood. Marine protected areas will be established in collaboration with island communities to conserve stocks of heavily-targeted species, and the replenishment of depleted stocks due to over-fishing or climatic events. Fisheries management will be developed with special attention on tuna, lagoon and reef fisheries.
The Policy Coordination and Strategic Risk Management Unit shall be responsible for governance of climate change, policy coordination amongst the various Ministries and Government departments, NGOs and Faith Based Organisations, vulnerability and risk management, capacity building, awareness and media coordination, and major international forums.