Building our Pacific loss and damage response

Pacific island countries are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The project strengthens their resilience in the face of climate-related loss and damage and focuses on understanding and addressing both economic and non-economic losses (NELs) caused by climate change, such as loss of culture, ancestral lands, and biodiversity. By working closely with local communities, governments, and various stakeholders, the project develops tools and strategies to measure and respond to NELs effectively. Additionally, it enhances the capacity of Pacific island countries to address loss and damage at the community, national and regional scale, while improving access to climate finance mechanisms. Through these efforts, the project safeguards lives, economies, and cultural identities in the Pacific while contributing to global efforts to address loss and damage from climate change.

Project data

Countries: Fiji, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
IKI funding: 19,715,338.55 €
Duration: 03/2024 till 12/2029
Status: open
Implementing organisation: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) - Samoa
Political Partner: Climate Change Department, Ministry of Finance, Tuvalu

Climate Change Directorate, Ministry of Environment, Republic of Marshall Islands

Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards, Environment, Energy & National Disaster Management, Vanuatu

Samoa Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
Implementing Partner: Climate Analytics Australia Ltd.

Climate Analytics gGmbH

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State of implementation/results

Between 03 and 05/2024, stakeholder engagement in WSM, RMI, TUV, VUT, and FJI was completed for the initial project development and planning. The Project Inception Workshops were completed across four countries: WSM (10/2025), VUT (02/2026), TUV and RMI (03/2026). Workshops engaged government agencies, NGOs, private sector, community leaders, and youth. Participants used illustrative storylines linking science, adaptation limits, and Non-Economic Loss and Damage (NELD), and shared loss and damage (L&D) experiences from their professional and personal experiences. Key priorities, hazards, and target sectors were identified to shape actions for the next three years, including work on NELD assessment, policy reform, and climate finance access
Key findings:
- All project countries are affected by Loss and Damage (L&D).
- Land loss due to sea level rise, flooding, and erosion is a major concern, particularly in atoll states like TUV and RMI
- Climate-induced crop failures are impacting food security and livelihoods in all countries.
- Evidence based projections on heat and sea level rise were presented as two of the many climate events that impact PSIDS
- Mental health impacts and cultural loss were identified as significant NELD across all five countries
- FJI’s experience with planned community relocation could provide valuable lessons for other countries
Initial capacity-building needs have been identified, particularly in accessing climate finance and integrating L&D into national policies
NELD Assessment Methodology:
- Collaboration between BOLD and the University of Queensland has progressed the development of a Pacific Island NELD assessment methodology. There have been technical consultations to share expertise, knowledge, information, and resources, ensuring that the methodology is responsive to on-the-ground impacts and able to gather the required information. The project's technical and analytical work is advancing across all focus areas, building the foundation for evidence-based L&D strategies in the Pacific
UNFCCC COP30 L&D support:
- The project team provided technical support to PSIDS and AOSIS L&D focal points, covering negotiations, the WIM review, and special events including the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) and the Santiago Network Advisory Board (SNAB). Several side events on L&D were supported through the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion
FRLD and Policy support:
- Technical advice provided to the PSIDS Ad-hoc Technical Working Group on L&D, particularly on FRLD proposals under the Barbados Implementation Modalities (BIM).
- Technical consultations were held with the Nabanga consortium on Vanuatu's FRLD Proposal, focusing on NELD priorities and Theory of Change.
- A review of climate national landscapes in each country identified areas in NAPs and NDCs for L&D integration and implementation opportunities
Project visibility:
- Communication templates and products developed, promoting BOLD activities, partners, donor and amplifying voices of communities
Project Staffing:
- The BOLD Project Manager and Finance Officer with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) have been recruited
Project Progress & Results
- From March–May 2024, the project advanced work across Samoa, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Fiji. Stakeholder engagement in each partner country were held with the following key themes: loss and damage (L&D) experiences, climate events such as sea level rise, inundation and erosion as key concerns, the impact of climate-induced crop failure on the local population, the mental health impacts and cultural losses accounting for the main Non Economic Loss and Damages (NELDs) across all five countries and the important lessons from Fiji’s experiences in undertaking planned relocation of vulnerable communities.
- Capacity needs were identified around accessing finance and integrating loss and damage into national planning. Kick-off meetings with political partners and countries established objectives, coordination, and tools for implementation. Recruitment for national and regional roles is underway.
- The project engaged at Subsidiary Bodies 62 and Pacific dialogues to align efforts, strengthen visibility, and share lessons. An abstract, “Understanding Loss and Damage in the Pacific,” was accepted for Adaptation Futures 2025.
- The project's technical and analytical work is progressing across all focus areas, laying the foundation for evidence-based loss and damage strategies in the Pacific.
Activities undertaken this year:
- Research and knowledge base:
  - A comprehensive review of international and national Climate Risk Assessment frameworks and Pacific adaptation strategies is underway. This includes mapping how loss and damage are addressed in policies such as Nationally Determines Contributions, National Adaptation Plans, and disaster risk management plans. Early work has identified key sectors and hazards, data sources, and initial estimates of climate-related losses.
- Developing practical tools:
  - A criteria-based methodology is being developed to identify priority sectors with countries based on exposure and data availability. This process will guide country-level priorities for the forthcoming years.
- Understanding noneconomic losses:
  - The team is reviewing global and regional approaches for assessing NELDs, including cultural heritage, community cohesion, and mental health, drawing from Pacific experiences such as Fiji's loss and damage methodologies.
- Supporting policy and finance access:
  - Collaboration with regional bodies such as the FRLD continues to strengthen access to finance and policy coherence.