Timor-Leste National Adaptation Programme of Action to Climate Change.

The Timor-Leste National Adaptation Programme of Action to Climate Change is a national policy with a cross-sectoral approach. The objectives of this policy are: (I) the development and implementation of immediate and urgent project-based activities to adapt to climate change and climate variability, (II) awareness raising of communities, civil society and the government on climate change adaptation activities, and (III) institutional capacity building of the State Secretariat for Environment to assist the integration of adaptation concerns of all climate change vulnerable sectors into policies, strategies, programmes and activities.
This policy sets forth strategies to meet the urgent climate change adaptation needs of the most vulnerable groups. Food security will be ensured by improving the capacity of farmers and pastoralists to plan for and respond to future climatic conditions, with a special emphasis on the reduction of vulnerability to increased drought and flood events. National food production will be improved by developing integrated agroforestry and watershed management including climate change dimensions. An integrated and sustainable land management practices will be implemented to promote fixed and permanent agriculture, reduced burning, reduced erosion, and increased soil fertility. Reforestation of degraded land will be promoted to prevent landslides and provide a sustainable fuelwood source in priority areas with high vulnerability to climate-related risks. Natural vegetation methods will be improved to prevent landslides in hill sites, roads and river banks. Awareness will be raised on sustainable agriculture and forest management to increase the resilience and reduce climate-related impacts of shifting cultivation and unsustainable upland farming practices. Mangrove plantations will be maintained and awareness will be raised to protect coastal ecosystems from impacts of sea level rise. Ecosystem management will be integrated into the national planning processes. The planning and legal framework will be improved for promoting sustainable and balanced food for livestock production under increased climate variability and climate change conditions. Climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable infrastructure will be developed to protect water resources in order to provide safe water supplies when disasters occur. To this end, integrated water resource management will be promoted to guarantee water access for food production, sanitary uses, ecosystems and industry development. Moreover, water harvesting models, water distribution systems and management systems will be developed at all levels to avoid water shortages due to climate change. The quantity of industrial water use will be controlled and water pollution control standardization will be applied. Measures will be taken against the climate change related diseases, including integrated early warning system at community level in relation to airborne and vector borne diseases and epidemics with disease surveillance. Disaster risk management will be strengthened by establishing early warning systems in areas identified as vulnerable to disasters, such as floods and storms, and by integrating climate risk information into traditional disaster risk reduction and management. The institutional capacity will be strengthened to improve coordination and develop a national climate change strategy and action plan. In addition, a Climate Change Unit will be established to engage in and support national policy development and programming activities.