Food security

Agriculture, fisheries and the broader food system are on the front line of the climate challenge. Australia's Indo-Pacific development partners are predominantly rural – with most of their populations engaged directly in small-scale agriculture and fishing.

The Indo-Pacific is one of the regions most exposed to climate change risks.

Intensifying climate-related disasters and more extreme climatic conditions such as water scarcity, rising sea levels, and the accompanying salinity, rising temperatures and ocean acidification are reducing agricultural productivity and putting fisheries under increasing pressure. Climate impacts are also being seen in declining pollinating insect numbers and increases in biosecurity risks, such as the expansion of pest species and disease distribution. Extreme climate events can also directly disrupt food transport, market accessibility, and storage infrastructure.

Climate change is exerting increasing pressure on already stressed food systems. Climate change impacts food systems across all the dimensions of food and nutrition security – food availability, access, utilisation and stability – which may result in significant price increases. This can lead to civil unrest, conflict, and migration. Nutrition outcomes are affected, leading to immediate and long-term health effects.

For more information on Australia’s support, see Climate resilient agricultural development and food security.

Water security

Water and climate change are inextricably linked. Climate change is altering the availability and quality of the world’s fresh water creating a risk multiplier for water insecurity. Reduced water security affects environmental, food, energy and urban systems undermining agricultural and industrial production and public health. At the same time, as water availability becomes less predictable, weather-related disasters become more frequent and extreme. Water resource management systems and water and sanitation services are increasingly at risk from climate-related disasters like floods, droughts, sea-level rise and cyclones.

Australia is investing in climate-resilient water resource management and water and sanitation programs to assist partner governments in the Indo-Pacific build more resilient systems to support water security from the rapidly growing threat of climate change.

For more information, see Australia’s assistance for water.