Port Vila – 26 April 2025 – The Government of Vanuatu warmly welcomed the first visit of the Global Centre for Climate Mobility (GCCM) last week, marking the launch of a new partnership aimed at strengthening national responses to climate mobility. During three days of consultations in Port Vila, government leaders, local authorities, and community representatives outlined urgent priorities, identified gaps in global support, and emphasized the immediate needs of communities already facing the impacts of climate change. The partnership will mark a major step toward a comprehensive, whole-of-society approach to managing climate mobility and building resilience in Vanuatu. As part of the visit, the GCCM representatives met with H.E. Prime Minister Jotham Napat to explore strategies for advancing community-led adaptation and sustainable development amidst the climate crisis.
“Climate-induced disasters have become a harsh reality for our communities,” said H.E. Jotham Napat, Prime Minister of Vanuatu. “We welcome GCCM’s support in terms of knowledge, solutions, financing for community-led adaptation, and relocation policies. We also look forward to collaborating on strategies for circular mobility, ensuring our people’s skills contribute to sustainable growth and community resilience.”
Under the Pacific Climate Mobility Initiative (PCMI), GCCM will support Vanuatu’s national planning efforts by providing cutting-edge data, strengthening local capacity, and mobilizing resources to address climate mobility comprehensively.
“We appreciate our constructive engagement with the GCCM. Its support fills a critical gap by helping Vanuatu build the knowledge and capacities needed to address climate mobility,” said H.E. Ralph Regenvanu, Minister for Climate Change, Energy, Meteorology, Geohazards, Environment and Disaster Management. “We particularly welcome the GCCM’s interest in enhancing the comprehensive approach of the National Advisory Board (NAB) on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction.”
GCCM also engaged with national authorities to review the ongoing challenges related to climate mobility of Ni-Vanuatus across the Pacific region and its impacts on social cohesion and sustainable development.
“Climate mobility is at the core of our adaptation, economy, culture, and the ability of families to stay together,” said Murielle Meltenoven, Labour Commissioner of Vanuatu. “We look forward to working closely with the GCCM to develop new strategies that place affected communities at the center of solutions.”
The GCCM’s leadership in advancing coastal resilience was strongly welcomed by Vanuatu, including its role as Secretariat of the new Ocean Rise & Coastal Resilience Coalition, set to launch at the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice in June 2025. In Port Vila, GCCM joined city leaders to examine how recent cyclones, earthquakes, and rising climate risks are impacting the city’s most affected communities, and to identify priorities for resilience planning.
“The safety of the people of Port Vila is a top priority,” said H.E. Jenny Regenvanu, Lady Mayor of Port Vila. “We look forward to strengthening our resilience and sharing our experiences globally through this important partnership with the GCCM.”
The GCCM provided keynote remarks to the NAB, highlighting the urgent need to localize climate financing and strengthen national responses to climate mobility.
“Climate mobility is not a distant threat — it is a present reality for communities across Vanuatu and the Pacific,” said Professor Kamal Amakrane, Managing Director of the Global Centre for Climate Mobility. “We are proud to initiate a new pathway for supporting Vanuatu’s leadership in building a comprehensive, community-centered and solutions-based approach to respond to climate impacts and harness climate mobility, including through the climate quick impact grants of our Communities Climate Adaptation Facility.”
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Vanuatu and GCCM will be signed during the upcoming Oceans Conference in Nice in June 2025.
For Media Inquires Contact: Jaclyn Licht, Strategic Communications Coordinator, +1 (781) 492-8513, licht@climatemobility.org
About the GCCM:
The Global Centre for Climate Mobility (GCCM) is a global partnership at the nexus of climate action and human mobility to enable positive adaptation journeys for people and communities at the frontline of the climate crisis, prioritizing their adaptive capacities and right to stay. It is enabled by the United Nations and advanced by champion countries, UN Agencies, the World Bank, and regional organizations with support from philanthropy, civil society organizations and research partners. The GCCM supports community transition in the most vulnerable regions through regional initiatives that enable countries and frontline communities to anticipate, plan, and design responses for climate mobility. The GCCM is advancing the Africa Climate Mobility Initiative, the Greater Caribbean Climate Mobility Initiative, and the Pacific Climate Mobility Initiative. It also enables the Rising Nations Initiative, which supports the Small Island Developing States in preserving statehood, protecting sovereignty, and safeguarding the rights and heritage. The GCCM is the secretariat for the Coalition for Addressing Sea-Level Rise & its Existential Threats (C-SET), the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Coalition to be officially launched at UNOC3, and the Climate Mobility Elders Group (C-MEG) led by former Heads of State and Government and other eminent global leaders working together to advance people-centered climate action amidst the climate crisis.