The Government of Vanuatu has made a strong call for increased and more accessible climate finance for frontline Small Island Developing States (SIDS) during the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UN DRR) Forum held last week in Geneva.

Representing Vanuatu, Minister for Climate Change Hon. Ralph Regenvanu emphasized the urgent need for transparent and streamlined climate funding systems, especially for vulnerable island nations like Vanuatu that face the brunt of rising sea levels and intensified cyclones.

“SIDS like Vanuatu have contributed very little to global emissions, yet we are among the most affected by its impacts,” Minister Regenvanu said.

He also highlighted the importance of community-based early warning systems and traditional knowledge, describing them as powerful tools to help communities prepare and respond effectively to disasters.

One example he gave was the VAN-KIRAP project, which integrates indigenous knowledge into early warning practices for rural areas.

“Our goal is to build systems that reach everyone—especially remote islands—using both real-time climate data and kastom (traditional) knowledge,” Regenvanu said.

The Minister stressed that early warning systems must be inclusive and accessible across the entire country, ensuring that no communities are left behind, especially those in hard-to-reach and high-risk areas.