Publications
Climate change and disaster impacts
Australia is committed to working in partnership with the Government of the Solomon Islands to meet the needs and aspirations of its people to build resilience to climate change and disaster events.
Solomon Islands is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the impacts of climate change and disasters. The projected increase in average cyclone intensity, combined with sea level rise and increased rainfall rates, is expected to increase cyclone impacts. Heat stress will impact the health of communities, and along with the risk of drought, threaten productive sectors such as the cocoa industry. With over 80 per cent of the population living in low-lying coastal areas, storm surge, king tides and sea level rise present significant challenges.
- In Solomon Islands, cyclones like 2020’s Tropical Cyclone Harold cause severe flooding, leading to loss of life and damage to critical infrastructure. Australia is working with the Solomon Islands Government to help ensure that social infrastructure and education buildings are resilient to the impacts of climate change.
- The 2015 El Niño drought disrupted food and water supplies in parts of the country for months, impacting communities recovering from previous floods and cyclones. Australia is providing better access to relevant climate science for farmers to help increase the resilience of farming communities and businesses.
- The average annual loss due to earthquakes and tropical cyclones in Solomon Islands is estimated at around USD20 million and is likely to increase as climate change impacts intensify. Australia is supporting civil society organisations to implement disaster risk reduction actions locally, helping increase the resilience of communities to disasters.
- Climate change disproportionately impacts those already experiencing exclusion and marginalisation, including women, people with disabilities and people living in poverty. Australia is committed to supporting Gender-responsive and inclusive approaches to climate and disaster risk resilience result in better program outcomes.
Bilateral programs
Australia integrates climate and disaster resilience through its bilateral development assistance to Solomon Islands across all areas of programming, including in the infrastructure, energy, community, governance and education sectors.
- The Tina River Hydropower project, co-funded by Australia ($60 million, 2009-24) will provide secure, affordable power for businesses and households in Honiara. The project will meet 100 percent of Solomon Islands’ emissions reduction target under the Paris Agreement.
- Australia provided $3.5 million for the redevelopment of the Gizo Market (through UN Women Markets for Change). The market includes a reinforced structure able to withstand a Category 5 cyclone, and a new sea wall to prevent flooding and reduce the risk of erosion. The market survived Cyclone Harold in 2020 and was able to resume trading quickly.
- The $32 million (2017-23) Strongim Bisnis program supports inclusive growth and resilience in the cocoa, coconut and tourism sectors as well as women’s participation and empowerment. It supports local partners to identify climate risk to their productive enterprises and to develop risk management strategies as well as to adopt more environmentally sustainable and less carbon intensive production processes.
- The Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program ($250 million over 10 years) is being implemented in accordance with a Climate Change and Disaster Risk Strategy to ensure risks are assessed and factored into design criteria, construction standards and maintenance programs. It also sets out objectives to work with the Government of Solomon Islands, and other infrastructure stakeholders, including local construction companies to enhance capacity to plan and implement climate resilience infrastructure.
- The Education Sector Support Program ($97 million Australian contribution 2015-23) delivered in partnership with Solomon Islands and New Zealand, is delivering certified school buildings rated to Category 4 cyclone standard and is working to better integrate climate change into curriculum, education resources and teacher training.
Regional and global programs
A range of regional and globally funded climate change investments are working directly to build climate change and disaster resilience in the Solomon Islands and across the region, including:
- The Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific Phase 3 (COSPPac3) (Australian contribution $30 million, 2023-29) supports the Solomon Islands National Meteorological Service to provide climate and ocean monitoring and prediction services. Climate predictions help farmers plan for planting and harvesting, and Pacific island countries to prepare for disasters like droughts and tropical cyclones. Ocean predictions (tide, currents, wind, and waves) support fishing, tourism, and shipping.
- The Governance for Resilient Development in the Pacific (Gov4Res) Project (Australian contribution $7.9 million, 2019-23) supports national and local governments and communities, as well as regional organisations, to strengthen decision-making processes and governance systems towards risk informed and resilient development.
- The Australia Assists program ($94.7 million globally, 2017-24) deploys technical specialists to work with governments, multilateral agencies and communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and conflict. A gender specialist is supporting the strengthening of gender responsive disaster response in Solomon Islands.
- In partnership with the Pacific Horticultural & Agricultural Market Access program (PHAMA Plus) ($53.3 million, 2018-26), Australia is supporting development of climate change resilient farming practices for root crop farmers in Solomon Islands.
- Through Pacific Women Lead, Australia supports the Women’s Environment and Development Organisation (WEDO) to advance women’s leadership in climate change decision-making and negotiations ($699,900, 2022-24) and the Shifting the Power Coalition ($1.9 million 2021- 26) to strengthen diverse women’s leadership in humanitarian action.
- The Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) Disaster READY Program ($100 million, 2017-27) is supporting communities, local civil society actors and national and sub-national government to be better prepared for and more resilient to disasters and climate change.
- The Australian Red Cross-DFAT Humanitarian Partnership ($50 million, 2019-24) supports the National Red Cross Society, enabling local communities to be better prepared for, respond to and recover from climate hazards and disasters. The National Society is trusted by national government partners and local communities to provide local leadership in disaster preparedness and response.