The Pacific experience in developing policy and legislation on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation

This study explores and unpacks the drivers and process to develop Joint National Action Plans on Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change (JNAPs), primary disaster risk management legislation, and sustainable development plans addressing disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation in three Pacific island countries: the Cook Islands, Solomon Islands and Tonga. It also discusses the experiences implementing these instruments.

The conclusions of the study inform some practical steps, including: provide economic arguments on resilience; ensure high-level political support; review linkages between national frameworks, policies and legislation; record good practices and lessons learnt; an integrated approach in responding to the challenges of capacity constraints and limited sharing of expertise at national level; and contribute to the global post-2015 DRR agenda.