News

Vanuatu receives the highest number of cyclones than any other country in the Southwest Pacific region. It also remains to be the most vulnerable country in the world to natural disasters and remnants of twin cyclones Judy and Kevin in early 2023 can still be seen in Vanuatu to date. With the increasing vulnerability to the climate crisis and disaster events, the need for timely and precise weather information to enhance Vanuatu’s early warning services could not be understated.

Vanuatu is highly exposed to tropical cyclones, storm surges, landslides, flooding, droughts, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis. These natural hazards compounded by the impacts of the climate crisis place Vanuatu in an increased state of vulnerability each year. This week, the Government of Vanuatu has taken a significant step to tackle the impacts of climate change and natural hazards to build a resilient nation, with the launch of the Vanuatu Climate Atlas.

Vanuatu's ability to conduct climate hazard-based impact assessments has significantly improved following a comprehensive training workshop from 3-7 June 2024.

In a groundbreaking move aimed at bolstering Vanuatu's tourism industry against climate risks, the government has unveiled a Rapid Climate Risk Assessment Framework and methodology.

The World Risk Report has ranked Vanuatu as the world’s most at-risk country to natural disasters and extreme weather events, making climate change the greatest ongoing threat to the well-being and livelihoods of its people and ecosystems.

07 March 2024, Port Vila, Vanuatu:  An inspiring initiative to bolster resilience against climate change in Vanuatu has seen the island nation take proactive steps to harness traditional knowledge within its communities.

17 November 2023, Port Vila, Vanuatu - Vanuatu’s climate is changing rapidly because of human-induced climate change. The country is already being hit by rising sea levels, stronger cyclones, marine heatwaves and extreme rainfall, and more change is projected to impact Vanuatu in the future.

For thousands of years, people in Vanuatu have observed species such as birds, marine animals and plants to help predict the weather and climate.

30 November 2023 – Luganville, Vanuatu - Vanuatu’s felt the full force of nature when severe tropical Cyclone Lola hit the northern and central regions of the country last week, leaving two dead and a path of devastation in its wake. This unfortunate climate-related event underscores precisely why access to accurate, up-to-date information about Vanuatu's climate is so important.

04 October 2023, Port Vila, Vanuatu - Rain or shine, weather data is collected daily all over Vanuatu by a network of weather observers from Vanuatu’s national meteorological service, the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department (VMGD).

29 September 2023, Port Vila, Vanuatu – A significant expansion of the climate information dissemination network in Vanuatu is being celebrated with the newly inaugurated Community Climate Centres launched in Lakatoro, Malekula, and Saratamata, Ambae.

21 September 2023, Port Vila – Vanuatu is ranked as the most vulnerable country in the world to natural disasters due to its geographic location. The impacts of climate change have greatly exacerbated the severe weather events and natural disasters that affect Vanuatu’s 83 islands and more than 330,000 people.